Awareness of local Aboriginal services

7.11 Speech pathologists should develop an awareness of local Aboriginal health services and Aboriginal specific social services.

Reference: Armstrong et al., 2015: Qualitative study; Penn & Armstrong, 2017: Discussion paper

NHMRC level of Evidence: GPP.

Rationale: Rationale: Knowing what local services are available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients can help in discharge and therapy planning as well as advocacy. Such knowledge can help to ensure that people are referred to services that are culturally safe and best address their personal needs and priorities. For example, people may prefer to engage in non-disability-centred Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community groups, rather than healthcare-based groups with a stronger focus on communication disabilities (Armstrong et al., 2015; Penn & Armstrong, 2017). Engagement with such groups should therefore be actively encouraged and facilitated by speech pathologists. On the other hand, some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people may prefer not to engage with Aboriginal-specific services. An open, non-judgmental discussion (see Statement 7.8) is necessary to determine which services the client would like to connect with and how the speech pathologist can facilitate. 

For speech pathologists, awareness of local Aboriginal health services and social services includes investing in long-term relationships with local service providers, which may include Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, n.d.). 

It is important that clients and their families are made aware of ways to contact health services after discharge should they want to (e.g., by contacting their ALO/AHW – see also statement 8.9). Speech pathologists are encouraged to have an open-door policy, sharing their contact details and making it easy for discharged clients and their families to get back in touch. Relationship-building is key to facilitate this process.

References:

1. Armstrong, E., Hersh, D., Hayward, C., & Fraser, J. (2015). Communication disorders after stroke in Aboriginal Australians. Disability and Rehabilitation, 37(16), 1462-1469. DOI: 10.3109/09638288.2014.972581
2. Penn, C., & Armstrong, E. (2017). Intercultural aphasia: New models of understanding for Indigenous populations. Aphasiology, 31(5), 563-594. DOI: 10.1080/02687038.2016.1213788