Ask the Specialist: stories to inspire better healthcare
Ask the Specialist is a podcast for health professionals who work with First Nations peoples in the place colonisers called the Northern Territory of Australia. Healthcare providers ask Arrernte, Larrakia, Tiwi, Warlpiri and Yolngu leaders their "burning questions" which span clinical to philosophical ideas. The Specialists are: Aunty Bilawara Lee, Pirrawayingi Puruntatameri, Rarrtjiwuy Melanie Herdman and Bernadette Nethercott, Jimmy Langdon, Sabella Kngwarraye Turner and Amelia Kngwarraye Turner.
Ask the Specialist was supported by the Communicate Study at Menzies School of Health Research. Episodes 8-10 were created in collaboration with Purple House, the Djalkiri Foundation and NT Health.
Ep 1-7:
Hosts: Vicki Kerrigan and Stuart Yiwarr McGrath
Voice over: Richard Margetson
Sound production: Hamish Robertson
Producer/Executive Producer: Vicki Kerrigan
Ep 8-10
Hosts: Kelly Clark and Christine Sanderson
Voice over: Brendan Phelan and Natasha Bertschi
Producer: Caddie Brain
Executive Producer: Vicki Kerrigan
Funding: Harry Christian Giese Research Into Action Award and Medical Research Futures Fund
Artwork: Amber Young
Music from https://filmmusic.io "Cold Funk" by Kevin MacLeod
Licensed under Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way.
Ask the Specialist: stories to inspire better healthcare
Latest Episodes
10. Supporting families and pain medication at end of life
Learn how kinship roles shape who can visit a loved one—and why absence can be a sign of deep respect. Discover why some families might fear pain medication, and why the right setting for end-of-life care discussions isn’t always a hospital roo...
9. “Skin and kin” and culturally safe communication at end of life
Have you ever wondered how to handle end-of-life talks with First Nations peoples? In this episode, the Specialists explore how "skin and kin" defines family roles and responsibilities—and why the decision-maker isn’t always the “next of kin” a...
8. The “D word”, sorry business and smoking ceremonies
Discussing end-of-life care can be very challenging—what words should you use? Can you call someone by their name? In this episode, the Specialists discuss the language to use before and after someone passes away, and the policies and procedure...
7. Perspectives on health and well-being
Some Aboriginal patients may have a different perspective on health compared to the western biomedical approach which underpins mainstream healthcare delivery. A culturally safe health professional has an awareness of differing worldviews and a...
