BreastScreen WA has introduced a thoughtful initiative aimed at enhancing the cultural safety, comfort, and protection of Aboriginal women participating in breast screening. This initiative includes the provision of specially designed sarongs for women who book their mammograms at BreastScreen WA events. Cultural Safety and Comfort: BreastScreen WA’s New Sarongs for Aboriginal Women
Senior Aboriginal Health Program Officer, Kelly Cameron, explained the significance of these sarongs. “It can be a bit confronting for some women to have to remove their shirts for the screening. So, these sarongs are both beautiful and practical,” she said. The sarongs provide an additional layer of comfort, allowing women to feel more at ease during what can be a sensitive and potentially uncomfortable process.
The design of these sarongs is the work of Western Australian artist and Pinjarup-Whadjuk woman, Chloe Calyon. Her artwork on the sarongs features women surrounded by meeting place symbols, which represent communities offering support, strength, and guidance. This meaningful design not only adds a visual element of beauty but also reflects the communal and supportive spirit of the initiative.
The significance of BreastScreen WA’s efforts is underscored by the history of the three sisters who recall stories of their father being one of the first bus drivers commissioned by BreastScreen WA. He was responsible for driving women thousands of kilometres from remote Aboriginal communities to Laverton for screening. These women were scanned for breast cancer and returned home the following day, marking an early and essential effort to ensure that Aboriginal women had access to this critical health service.
BreastScreen WA remains committed to working closely with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to support their access to free breast screening services. The organisation places a strong emphasis on providing a culturally safe environment, offering culturally approved resources, and developing partnerships within local Aboriginal communities across Western Australia.
BreastScreen WA encourages all women to take time out of their busy schedules and make a date with a sister or friend to get screened for breast cancer. By doing so, they not only take care of their own health but also contribute to a community-wide effort to detect and prevent breast cancer early.
For more information on screening locations, visit BreastScreen WA – Breast screening locations.
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Tony Clemenger.
Chief Executive Officer.
Tel: 0419431649.
Level 1 397 Chapel Street South Yarra 3141.
Source: https://nit.com.au/13-08-2024/13057/breastscreen-wa-breast-cancer-health-checks-remote-communities
