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Background

Mparntwe is the Arrente word for the place that is now called Alice Springs. In deference to the Arrente Traditional Owners, and in the spirit of reconciliation, we have decided to name our group the Mparntwe Medical Society (MMS). Using the word Mparntwe, in this case, is not cultural appropriation but a sign of respect from us to the traditional owners of the place where we live, work and meet. The use of the word Mparntwe in our society name has been approved by Traditional Owner Sabella Turner.

Who are we?

Founding Members: Drs Christine Hampshire, Katrina Lloyd & Mary Wicks

We are three medical practitioners who have lived and worked in Central Australia for many years. We have a broad range of experience and work predominantly with Aboriginal people in both Alice Springs and remote communities.

We share an interest in deepening our understanding about,

• how best to work with Aboriginal people in our setting,
• the intersection of Aboriginal and biomedical health models,
• the effect, and perpetuation, of racism in ourselves and the structures within which we work,
• Aboriginal people of the Central Australian region – culture, language, and how this intersects with western society, and
• helping junior medical colleagues engage with and process their experiences in cross-cultural health care in Central Australia.

Aims of the MMS

• To provide a safe, non-institutional space to reflect on experiences working with Aboriginal people,
• To provide a peer-supported reflective space to engage with concepts around cultural difference, racism, and our own sociocultural identity and how this affects our communication and relationships with Aboriginal people.

Group Membership

Membership will be by invitation and aimed at health care professionals who

• have similar questions to ourselves and
• wish to join a group to discuss issues of mutual interest.

We are particularly aware of doctors in training and those with recent exposure to working in the Central Australian cross-cultural space.

This is not a group for Aboriginal people. We believe it is our responsibility, as non-Aboriginal people, to reflect on our attitudes, behaviors, and choices, and the nature of the structures we inhabit and to ‘own’ these.

Meetings

Place – The Thirsty Heart, 12 Mahomed Street, The Gap, Alice Springs, or as otherwise arranged

Day and Time – First Saturday of each month; 0900 to 1030 hrs.

Brunch supplied (mostly)

Donations will be requested to cover the cost of utilities and food as required

Meeting format

A chosen article will be circulated 2 weeks prior to the meeting.

The specific subject will be chosen by the founding member/s of the MMS or agreed on in a previous meeting by attendees.

The content and style of the meetings will likely change over time and may include invited guests/ speakers or other collaborations.

November 2021

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The Mparntwe Medical Society © 2021- by Mary Wicks is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International