Welcome to the Advocacy in Health Communication module.
Acknowledgement of Country
We would like to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which this module was designed and developed, the Yuggera and Turrbal people. We invite you to learn about and acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which you join us.
We would also like to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the Zenadth Kes, whose plight for their island homelands are showcased in this module. We recognise their deep connections to land, sea and sky. In particular, we would like to acknowledge the Elders of the Gudaw Maluligal Nation of the Top Western Islands, the Maluligal Nation of the Western Islands, the Kemer Kemer Meriam Nation of the Eastern Islands, the Kulkalgal Nation of the Central Islands, and the Kaiwalagal Kaurareg Aboriginal Nation of the Inner Islands.
We would like to pay our respects to the Ancestors and Descendants of these lands and acknowledge their continued cultural and spiritual connections to Country. We would also like to recognise their valuable contributions to Australian and global society.
This is a module about advocacy! So, acknowledging Country is not only about situating ourselves in Country - an important practice in and of itself. It can also be a means of advocating for First Nations health equity. Before going forward, we would like to acknowledge the tremendous contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to health advocacy in Australia, and for continuing to show the way in advocating for health equity and justice.
Learning Objectives
With this in mind, let’s dive into the Learning Objectives. By the end of this module, you will be able to:
Understand the inextricable role of health communication within effective advocacy
Understand the role of communities (and audiences) in designing and evaluating health advocacy strategies
Identify a range of tools that can support health communication advocacy.
Estimated learner time: 45min
1. Introducing a story of advocacy
Before hearing the story of someone who’s life work has been dedicated to health advocacy, let’s define what we mean by the term advocacy:
What: In the simplest terms, advocacy is the process of speaking out for something, such as a cause or a policy. But this can also be raising awareness, advocating for individuals, communities or populations.
How: Recognising the need for improving people’s health and wellbeing, and working with communities to transform systems by using persuasive communication strategies to highlight community needs and support policies, causes or ideas.
Why: To ensure health equity in an unequal world.
Take a listen to Associate Professor Linda Selvey, as she shares her experiences of health advocacy.
Acknowledgment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers that the following content may include images, voices and videos of deceased persons.
A/Prof Linda Selvey reminds us that effective advocacy requires a variety of tactics. It also requires working at the level of community and with grass-roots organisations, as well as with or within governments and institutions. Linda’s experience teaches us that constant reflection on what is working and where we might be required next is needed to ensure impact. Given a changing climate is a non-negotiable issue, something our health and very survival depends on, Linda stresses the need for us to continue to advocate, despite changes to what we do or how this might look.
Inside the Tigers mouth
Most of all, Linda’s story speaks to the need for us to push our own comfort zones and be willing to stand up for the issues we believe in - whatever that may look like or mean. Let’s turn to a short video to support us with that very invitation.
Checking in…
There’s a lot to digest in this module. Let’s check in. You might choose to respond to the Head, Hands or Heart by taking a moment to write down your reflections.