PARTICIPATORY ACTION RESEARCH AS A STRATEGY FOR EMPOWERING ABORIGINALHEALTH-WORKERS

A participatory action research project tvas undertaken with Aborigina l health workers on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands in South Australia . The study examined the factors that affect the empowerment of Aborig inal health workers within the context of an Aboriginal-controlled pri mary health care service. This project was different from precious res earch conducted with Aboriginal health workers in remote areas for was reasons. First, it enabled them to participate actively as co-researc hers in the study and second, it brought about action and change durin g the research process. The three main factors preventing Aboriginal h ealth workers from attaining a key role within the health service are the standard of training they receive, their low literacy and numeracy levels, and their lack of participation in decision making within the health service, Each of these factors is interrelated and all affect the Aboriginal health workers' ability to have more control and respon sibility within the health service.