POGO works to provide the best care possible for all of Ontario’s children with cancer, in part, by identifying gaps in childhood cancer care. In recent years, a POGO priority has been to focus efforts on enhancing culturally relevant care for Indigenous children, as Indigenous families often face barriers to culturally appropriate healthcare.

POGO’s focus has been on building relationships, identifying current opportunities to improve the care of Indigenous children with cancer as well as opportunities that might result in a more efficient system, and assembling the expertise needed to assess the issues, gaps and advances anticipated.

In 2017, POGO collaborated with Cancer Care Ontario to launch Pediatric Oncology, a new course in the recently refreshed series of Indigenous Relationship and Cultural Awareness courses offered by Cancer Care Ontario. These courses provide frontline healthcare professionals with knowledge about the history and culture of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people and communities and guidance on how to provide culturally appropriate, person-centred care.

POGO and Cancer Care Ontario know that cultural safety is a critical component for improving patient experiences and outcomes. Through video and text, the Pediatric Oncology course examines the differences between childhood and adult cancer, one family’s experience of the journey for Indigenous children with cancer, and the role POGO plays in helping to navigate this journey with a unique whole-life approach to childhood cancer care told from the frontline experience of a POGO Interlink Community Cancer Nurse.

The 13 Indigenous Relationship and Cultural Awareness courses are ideal for healthcare providers, those working with Indigenous people, and anyone who wants to better understand Indigenous history and culture. The courses are interactive, free of change and open to anyone. Each course in the Self-Learning program has been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada for Mainpro+ credits.

Indigenous Relationship and Cultural Awareness Courses

Watch the video featured in Pediatric Oncology