The Communicate Study Partnership at Menzies School of Health Research is creating new episodes of the award winning Ask the Specialist podcast, focused on Central Australia. We hope this project supports healthcare providers to safely communicate with and care for First Nations people.

All responses are confidential. Anonymous questions collected in this survey will be collated and posed to First Nations leaders from Central Australia. The aim of the podcast is to support healthcare providers to communicate with and care for First Nations peoples.

BACKGROUND
The Communicate Study Partnership, at Menzies School of Health Research, works across the NT to improve First Nations peoples’ experience and outcomes of healthcare, through exploring and implementing culturally safe communication practices.

Ask the Specialist: stories to inspire better healthcare is a podcast which answers healthcare provider ‘burning’ questions about working with First Nations patients. In the first ten episodes, the Specialists were Arrernte, Larrakia, Tiwi, Warlpiri and Yolŋu leaders. In recognition that First Nations communities have distinct cultural practices, languages, and health needs, new episodes will feature more Specialists from Central Australia responding to the anonymous questions from health professionals in the region. We aim to make between 3 to 5 new episodes.

The first 10 episodes of the podcast are available via Apple podcasts and Spotify. Please find the link to the podcast at the bottom of the survey.

This survey will close on 15 October 2025.

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* 1. Which organisation(s) do you work for?

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* 2. Which region(s) do you work in?

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* 3. What is the burning question that you have regarding working with First Nations patients and families?
- What question would you love to have answered but feel too embarrassed to ask?
- What question keeps you awake at night?
- What question do you and your workmates talk about all the time but you haven’t found the right person to ask?

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* 4. Do you have a story about an interaction with a patient or family that you'd like to hear a First Nations perspective on?

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* 5. Any other questions or comments about working with First Nations patients and families in Central Australia?

Ask the Specialist: https://www.menzies.edu.au/page/Resources/Ask_the_Specialist_Larrakia_Tiwi_and_Yol%C5%8Bu_stories_to_inspire_better_healthcare/

If you would like more information about development of the new podcast episodes, please contact Vicki Kerrigan: 0431 163 210 or vkerrigan@swin.edu.au OR Anna Lucas: 0478 029 224 or anna.lucas@menzies.edu.au

This project has been approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of the NT Department of Health and Families and Menzies School of Health Research. If you have any concerns or complaints regarding the ethical conduct of the study, you are invited to contact Ethics Administration Menzies School of Health Research (phone: 08 8946 8600, email ethics@menzies.edu.au)

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