JCPSLP Vol 19 No 1 2017

www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

JCPSLP

Volume 19, Number 1 2017

Communication and connection: Valuing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives

t is with great pleasure and

excitement that I commence my

role as editor of the

Journal of

Clinical Practice in Speech-Language

Pathology

with this issue entitled

“Communication and connection:

Valuing Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Islander perspectives”. I am delighted to

begin my journey with

JCPSLP

with this

important and empowering issue and

to have the opportunity to learn from

the perspectives of so many different

contributors.

An important part of this editorial is

acknowledging the work of Dr David

Trembath as outgoing editor. Over the

past two and a half years David has fulfilled the role of

JCPSLP

editor with exceptional

leadership, sensitivity, and understanding of the needs of the speech pathology

profession and the members of Speech Pathology Australia. I would like to thank David

for the way in which he has shaped the journal over this time, advocated for change

and stayed in tune with topical issues facing the profession. I would also like to extend

my appreciation for David’s assistance in ensuring my smooth handover and transition

into the role. I wish him all the very best in future endeavours.

In the November 2016 issue, David reflected on what he felt the

JCPSLP

publication

offers the speech pathology community: “The

JCPSLP

is a place where clinicians,

researchers, and other members of the community come together to share knowledge,

critical and clinical insights, and novel ideas to move our field forward.” While working

with the authors and editorial team on preparing this current issue, these words

resonated strongly with me.

Coming together towards the common goal of sharing knowledge, insights and

ideas requires an open and reflexive process of communication. It happens in the spirit

of fostering connections, and is achieved only with a genuine commitment to hearing

and valuing a range of different perspectives. The perspectives shared in this issue of

JCPSLP illuminate experiences, ideas and reflections that challenge and encourage

us, as Speech-Language Pathologists, to develop new knowledge, skills and

attitudes towards working in culturally safe and responsive ways, in partnership with

Australia’s First Peoples. It is hoped that this issue of JCPSLP contributes positively

to the conversations happening within and beyond the profession, and promotes

the importance of listening to, and learning from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

peoples.

I would like to thank Bronwyn Davidson and Chris Brebner for taking on the roles

of Guest Editors for this issue. Bronwyn and Chris have widely collaborated with

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander speech pathologists, clinicians and academics

to collate an issue of depth and insight into Indigenous ways of knowing, being and

doing. There are seven articles included in this issue, along with “Ethical conversations”,

“Webwords”, “Resource review”, and “Around the journals”. All align with the theme

of communicating, connecting and valuing different perspectives, in particular the

perspectives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. I thank all who have

contributed their knowledge, experiences and wisdom to this issue and hope that the

contents encourages reflection on practice, inspires conversations within and beyond

workplaces and advocates for the provision of speech pathology services that support

the needs and values of all Australians.

From the editor

Leigha Dark

From the editor

From the guest editors

– Bronwyn

Davidson and Chris Brebner

Our journey towards 2030:

Building a

diverse, culturally responsive Association

–

Gaenor Dixon

What is spoken, and what is heard:

Bridging the services gap via culturally

safe practice –

Robyn Sandri and Judith

Gould

Clinical insights from research with

New Zealand Ma- ori

–

Karen M Brewer

Yarning:

Assessing “proppa” ways

–

Tara Lewis, Anne E. Hill, Chelsea

Bond, and Alison Nelson

Aboriginal families’ experiences of

attending speech-language pathology

services

–

Laura Graham and Nicole

Byrne

Assessment and treatment of aphasia

in Aboriginal Australians:

Linguistic

considerations and broader implications

for cross-cultural practice –

Elizabeth

Armstrong, Graham McKay, and

Deborah Hersch

Educators’ and carers’ perceptions of

Aboriginal children’s communication

and emergent literacy development

–

Gwendalyn Webb and Cori Williams

Development of student clinics in

Indigenous contexts:

What works? –

Anne E. Hill, Alison Nelson, Jodie

Copley, Teresa Quinlan, and Rebekah

White

Ethical conversations:

Aspiring to build

culturally responsive, collaborative

speech-language pathology services

– Some ethical reflections for SLPs

working with Indigenous Australians

–

Helen Smith and Felicity Burke

Webwords 57: Aboriginal and Torres

Strait Islander peoples:

Rights, reading

and moving out of the shadows

–

Caroline Bowen

Around the journals

Resource review

Contents