Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website may contain images, voices and names of deceased persons.
This work by Aboriginal artist Dennis Golding references patient-reported measures through indigenous cultural symbolism and creative practices of innovation.
Culturally safe care and PRMs
The Patient Reported Measures (PRMs) Program has been developed in partnership with Aboriginal communities to ensure every step from design to implementation reflects Aboriginal ways of knowing, being and doing. PRMs give people a voice in their healthcare by capturing what matters most to them, and can include things such as quality of life, cultural needs, connection to Country, family and community, and overall wellbeing.
It gave me control over my own destiny and gave me a voice so I could converse with my own GP and other specialists.
By listening to people’s own perspectives, PRMs help health services deliver care that is culturally safe, builds trust and strengthens relationships. This approach supports shared decision making, identifies barriers such as communication challenges, and recognises cultural needs. This ensures care is not only clinically effective but responsive to the values and priorities of Aboriginal people.
Yarning guide
Use yarning when explaining patient‑reported outcome measures to Aboriginal consumers in a culturally safe and respectful way.
PROMs yarning cards
Introductory guidance for using yarning cards about patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) to support discussions about what matters most to Aboriginal people and their wellbeing.
Other ways to learn
Clinicians can choose the approach that works best for the consumer to help explain PRMs, PROMs and PREMs.
Leadership and governance
In December 2019, we established a Patient Reported Measures Aboriginal Health Working Group. The Working Group consists of two co-chairs with broad member representation across the NSW Health system, including strong representation from Aboriginal health workers and leaders and PRM implementation leads in regional, rural, and metropolitan locations.
The Working Group ensures that the PRMs Program aligns with several priority reform areas within the NSW Aboriginal Health Plan 2024-2034, specifically including items about data governance and sovereignty, health literacy and person-centred care.
The purpose of the Working Group is to:
- support local services – both those represented within the Working Group and across the system – by working hand in hand to successfully implement PRMs across Aboriginal health services.
- determine priority activities and core bodies of work to support PRMs implementation across Aboriginal health services, such as the development of capability building and consumer facing resources.
- oversee scoping activities to identify, select and implement an appropriate and culturally validated quality of life PROM tool.
If you are interested in joining the PRMs Aboriginal Health Working Group, email ACI-PRM@health.nsw.gov.au
Using the Aboriginal Health Impact Statement to improve outcomes
NSW Health uses the Aboriginal Health Impact Statement (AHIS) as a vital tool to ensure it considers the health needs and interests of Aboriginal people, their families and communities when developing health policies, programs, and strategies.
The PRMs Program AHIS forms a foundation to guide and support meaningful and productive collaboration, including developing and nourishing partnerships with Aboriginal people and the Aboriginal Health sector.
The PRMs Program is committed to strengthening how we partner and work with consumers, carers and communities. The AHIS supports the program’s role in facilitating communication between clinicians and system decision makers, and enables shared decision making with Aboriginal people at all levels.
We continue to work with the PRMs Aboriginal Health Working Group to evolve the PRMs AHIS, and review and oversee all aspects of program co-design, implementation and evaluation in a culturally safe way.
Focus areas of the PRMs AHIS include:
- enabling early and careful consideration of the health needs of Aboriginal people across all areas of the PRMs Program
- guiding systematic change through innovative health system enablers and linkages related to Aboriginal Health
- ensuring the PRMs Program strives to achieve equity and respect for Aboriginal people
- supporting NSW Health staff to develop effective partnership and meaningfully engage with Aboriginal stakeholders in the context of implementing PRMs.
We strive to embed the AHIS across all aspects of our work and engagement.
Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Governance Framework
The Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Governance Framework ensures Aboriginal people have the right to govern the collection, ownership and use of their data in PRMs.
The framework was developed in partnership with the PRMs Aboriginal Health Working Group, Aboriginal Health leaders, local PRM leads, clinicians and consumers across NSW, in collaboration with the Kowa Collaboration.
Consultation is currently underway to inform an implementation strategy for the Framework.
Additional resources
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