Enhancing personal factors

This section aims to ensure that personal factors and linguistic diversity are accommodated throughout the rehabilitation journey.  Follow the links for best practice statements developed in accordance with the most up-to-date research and expert opinion.

Care has been taken to phrase statements using language and terminologies that are as appropriate and culturally safe as possible at the time of publication, considering the most recent developments in these fields. We are aware, however, that developments in these fields are rapid and that the AARP (being a relatively static document) may therefore not reflect the most appropriate terminology and/or practice in the future. We acknowledge this as an inherent weakness of the AARP and are dedicated to ensuring that future editions of this document will be updated accordingly.

It is important to point out here that the term “CALD” can be considered “othering” and “reductive” as it does not do justice to the rich diversity within this group (Armstrong et al., 2024). We acknowledge these limitations but have chosen to use this term in the context of the AARP so as to be able to provide specific clinically relevant guidance when working with people with this background and given the prevalence of this term in Australia.

We have chosen to use the term “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people” or “Aboriginal people” when referring to Australia’s First Peoples. We want to stress that whenever we use “Aboriginal people”, we intend this to also refer to Torres Strait Islander people (see Australian Public Service Commission, 2022).

In this section you will find best practice statements, resources and information that focuses on:

1. Self-management
2. Working with people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples constitute one of the many culturally and linguistically diverse groups within Australia, and indeed include diversity of its own within this ethnic ‘category.’ Their status as the First Australians and their particularly unique socio-political background and currently poor health outcomes require a critically different approach to aphasia management. 
3. Culturally and linguistic diverse populations - including the impact of cultural and linguistic factors on service delivery and modifying assessment and intervention for CALD populations.