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www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au
JCPSLP
Volume 14, Number 1 2012
31
Professional issues
Keywords
ABORIGINAL
ALTERNATIVE
SERVICE
DELIVERY
CULTURALLY
APPROPRIATE
EARLY
INTERVENTION
•
utilising existing community relationships and services
(Aldred, Forsingdal, & Baker, 2002; Nelson & Allison, 2004);
•
being flexible in service delivery (Speech Pathology
Australia, 2000a, 2000b, 2009);
•
pacing the service delivery appropriately for those
involved (McSwan, Ruddell, & Searston, 2001);
•
transferring knowledge and understanding between
professionals and the people in the Aboriginal
community, to develop lasting, sustainable outcomes
(Hoy et al., 2010; McSwan et al., 2001);
•
acknowledging the depth of the many social issues
involved, and the inter-relatedness of many factors
which may impact on the intervention (Australian
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services
and Indigenous Affairs, 2009; Eckermann et al., 2010;
Hoy et al., 2010);
•
acknowledging the current and historical negative
experiences of these people with health, education, and
government initiatives (Eckermann et al., 2010; Nelson &
Allison, 2004);
•
acknowledging “Shame” and the benefits of Aboriginal
translator/liaison person in all stages of the intervention
(Gould, 2008; McSwan et al., 2001; Philpott, 2003).
Guiding principles
The guiding principles of the Little Yarns project were
developed out of consultation with representatives from the
local Aboriginal community and based upon the
fundamental tenets documented in the literature. These are
described in more detail below.
Extended time to develop relationships
Prior to the commencement of this project a longstanding
relationship had been established between the local
Aboriginal children’s service (Awabakal) and an early
intervention outreach service (Firstchance Inc.). Once the
project actually commenced, time was allowed for the Little
Yarns team (Firstchance Inc.), who consisted of three early
intervention teachers and a speech pathologist, to develop
relationships with staff from the Aboriginal children’s
services as well as the children and families who attend
these services. As the project has evolved over the past
three years, relationships have also developed with key
community representatives. These representatives have
acted as gatekeepers to other existing community groups.
The strengthening of these relationships has allowed trust
and respect to develop between the community and the
Little Yarns team.
There are some fundamental tenets
1
which
have been found to be successful when working
with Aboriginal populations, both in Australia
and more globally. The Little Yarns project,
funded through the NSW government depart
ment of Aging Disability and Home Care (ADHC)
as an innovative service has attempted to adopt
these tenets in order to deliver quality early
intervention services to the local Aboriginal
children and families. The Little Yarns project
has been funded for four years to focus on
language development and intervention for
Aboriginal children under school-age who
attend the Awabakal Children’s Services. The
project aims to support families to (a) access
mainstream services, (b) provide training for
staff and families to increase their knowledge
of, and skills in, communicating with children
who are language impaired, and (c) increase
the awareness of non-Aboriginal workers
about providing culturally appropriate
services to the Aboriginal population.
Paradigm shift?
Much of the information in the literature (Eckermann et al.,
2010; Hoy et al., 2010) suggests that for intervention (in
health and allied health) to be effective with Aboriginal
populations, deviations from the traditional clinical model of
service delivery are required. The strength of the differences
in models of service delivery, and the struggle to achieve
them nudges one to question whether speech pathologists
are experiencing a paradigm shift in how we service
Aboriginal people.
Fundamental tenets
Several key themes are emphasised in the literature
addressing intervention with Aboriginal people. These
include the importance of:
•
developing relationships at both organisational and
personal levels to develop trust between services and
individuals (Eckermann et al., 2010; Hoy et al., 2010);
•
consulting with the community regarding areas of need,
services required and the best way to deliver these
(Eckermann et al., 2010);
Clinical insights
Strategies to enhance effective service delivery
for Aboriginal people
Gwendalyn Webb
Gwendalyn
Webb