Speak Out Dec 2016

Branch News

In May, Northern Territory SPA members along with other Darwin-based allied health professionals attended a webinar presentation at Royal Darwin Hospital delivered by Kylie Stothers from Indigenous Allied Health Australia (IAHA). This collaborative session between IAHA and Speech Pathology Paediatric Indigenous Network (SPPIN) was convened to introduce participants to IAHA’s Cultural Responsiveness Framework. The framework aims to support all Australian’s working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, families and communities to acquire the relevant skills and knowledge to develop capabilities that are essential for successful partnerships in action. The IAHA framework is a strengths-based, action orientated approach to building cultural safety. It is based on the principles of knowing, being and doing – “What we need to KNOW, BE and DO in order to be culturally responsive” (see figure 1). The session was designed to “walk” providers through the framework, and explore the importance of Introducing the Indigenous Allied Health Australia’s Cultural Responsiveness Framework

Northern Territory

being culturally responsive, in order to positively impact the health and well- being of Australia’s first peoples. Further, this framework seeks to change the language in the Aboriginal health space from deficit-based to solution- focused language. As service providers we may want to consider our drive to “fix” people, and reframe our services as working with individual and community strengths to maximise participation of our clients and their families. The framework is comprised of six key capabilities (see figure 2) and this webinar introduced the capabilities of self-awareness, and inclusive engagement. Overall we learned we can all strengthen our level of cultural responsiveness and we encourage you to take a look at the framework for yourself. Some take-away tips for working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients:

NT 47 members as at October 2016

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• Don’t worry about silence. After you pose a question, wait, allow the family time (maybe even two minutes) to process what you are saying. As a health professional working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people be prepared for silence and if this is something that you are not comfortable with, your responsibility is to work on this, learn from it and practise it. • Remember some families are communicating with you in their second or third language. Allow for time for clarification and think about Aboriginal interpreters to ensure clear communication and understanding. • Families might feel more comfortable sitting side by side with you. If possible allow for a more fluid room set up where family members can move chairs or sit where they feel most comfortable. Other things you can do: 1. Download the Cultural Framework from IAHA at www.iaha.com.au/wp-content/ uploads/2015/08/2015-IAHA-Cultural-Responsiveness-Framework-WEB.pdf 2. Indigenous Allied Health Australia (IAHA) is a national not-for-profit, member based Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander allied health organisation. Established in 2009, from a network of committed allied health professionals and registered in 2013, IAHA has 837 members, only 67 of them in the NT! Join IAHA through their website. You do not have to be an Indigenous allied health provider yourself and membership is free! Go to www.iaha.com.au 3. Join Speech Pathology Paediatric Indigenous Network (SPPIN) through their Facebook page. 4. Check out Racism Stops With Me: https://itstopswithme.humanrights.gov.au/ and join the campaign. For more information please contact IAHA directly on (02) 62851010, email admin@iaha.com.au or visit www.iaha.com.au

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Bea Staley Charles Darwin University Kylie Stothers Indigenous Allied Health Australia

Speech Pathology Australia is partners with IAHA to conduct cultural responsiveness education sessions with our members across the country. More information from SPA will follow shortly.

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December 2016 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

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