Module 2: Clinical yarning

Effective communication between health professionals and patients forms the basis of high-quality healthcare. Unfortunately, communication breakdowns are common, especially when there are cultural and language differences. 

Yarning, a type of conversation prevalent in Indigenous cultures, is also viewed as a culturally appropriate way to connect with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and gather information in a clinical setting. 

Clinical yarning involves applying patient-centered communication skills in specific ways to ensure consultations are culturally secure for First Nations people. It's based on cultural awareness, which is fundamental to cultural security. 

During clinical yarning, once a trusting relationship is established, patients are given ample time to talk and share their stories. This storytelling process itself can contribute to healing. Another crucial aspect is practitioners engaging in active listening skills. 

By building trust, rapport, and understanding the patient's story, you can identify problems early and potentially increase the person's receptiveness to support and treatment. 

The clinical yarning module you’re about to complete was created by the Western Australian Centre for Rural Health (WACRH) and is used with their permission. If you’d like more information about WACRH, you can visit their website here. 

This module aims to help you, as a health professional, develop effective communication skills through the yarning process. 

Learning objectives

• To provide the learner with an overview and understanding of clinical yarning and its importance as part of the communication framework when interacting with First Nations women and their families. 
• To improve confidence and skill of staff supporting First Nation families in terms of the practical implementation of clinical yarning. 

IMPORTANT: Accessing the module

The 'Start module' button will take you to the Western Australian Centre for Rural Health eLearning website. If this is your first time on their site, you’ll need to create a log in before accessing the module. 

Please download the PDF instructions to guide you in setting up your WACRH login and opening the module.  

Once you've completed the module and saved a copy of your certificate, close that browser window and then select the 'Return to course profile page' button below. 

Technical requirements

This module uses audio, so you will need to use a computer or device that can support this.

You’ll need a reliable internet connection. It is recommended to use the latest version of your browser such as Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge. 

Progress tracking

Your progress will be automatically tracked on the Western Australian Centre for Rural Health eLearning website.   

Troubleshooting tips

If videos are not playing, try clearing your browser cache or using a different browser.

Learning activities and assessment

The module consists of 4 sections: 

1. Introduction to Clinical Yarning 
2. Communication in Aboriginal Health Care  
3. The Clinical Yarning framework 
4. Clinical Yarning in different contexts 

You must complete all activities in sections 1, 2 and 3. For section 4, you must choose and complete at least one clinical topic that is most relevant to your area of work. You are welcome to choose more than one topic if desired, as each topic centres around enhancing communication skills within a different clinical context. 

Each section has several built-in questions to check your understanding as you progress. They also include video interactions to watch with follow-up questions for you to answer. 

Once you’ve completed all the required sections, you'll need to answer a short survey regarding the module. After completing the survey, you’ll be able to download your completion certificate.