The photovoice method: researching the experiences of Aboriginal health workers through photographs
Alice Wilkin A and Pranee Liamputtong A BA School of Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic. 3086, Australia.
B Corresponding author. Email: pranee@latrobe.edu.au
Australian Journal of Primary Health 16(3) 231-239 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY09071
Published: 6 September 2010
Abstract
This paper discusses the methodological framework and perspectives that were used in a larger study aiming at examining the experience of working life among female Aboriginal health care workers. Currently, the voice of Aboriginal women who work in the Australian health system has not received much attention. In comparison to other occupations and backgrounds, there is virtually no literature on Aboriginal woman health care workers despite 15% of health care and social service industry employees in Australia being Aboriginal. In this study, we selected female participants because of the fact that of these 15% of health workers in the Victorian health system, 76% of them are women. This paper outlines some of the barriers in researching Indigenous communities. These barriers were overcome in this study by framing the research in feminist theory, decolonising theory, empowerment and by employing the photovoice method. The photovoice method was used because it is relatively unobtrusive and has the capacity to be empowering. All data was extrapolated from the participants’ own narratives that were prompted by the photographs they had taken. The data produced were rich descriptions and narratives that were oral as well as visual. Finally, the article discusses the experience of using the photovoice method from the researcher and participants’ perspective.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the participants of this study. We were overwhelmed by the kindness and openness they showed towards Alice. These women were very busy people with high-stress jobs. Despite this, they took time out of their schedule to speak to Alice, and for this, Alice is extremely grateful. We would also like to thank Penny Smith, for introducing Alice to many of the participants. We would also like to thank the Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health who is sponsoring the exhibition that we are currently organising and have been very supportive of the study.
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