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Communication and connection: Valuing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives
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JCPSLP
Volume 19, Number 1 2017
Journal of Clinical Practice in Speech-Language Pathology
Bronwyn
Davidson and
Chris Brebner
In this issue of
JCPSLP
we present a diverse range of
papers that highlight different aspects of improving speech
pathology services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Australians.
Robyn Sandri and Judy Gould use a framework of
cultural safety to highlight strategies and understandings to
assist non-Indigenous speech pathologists to work
effectively and ethically with Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Australians. Karen Brewer’s article focuses on
practical considerations for speech pathologists working
with Maori families with communication disorders in New
Zealand. Tara Lewis and colleagues outline how yarning
can be used as a culturally appropriate form of assessment
of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children’s
language and communication. Laura Graham and Nicole
Byrne discuss the factors that support Aboriginal families to
access and engage with speech pathology services, with a
focus on ways in which services can become more
culturally safe and appropriate. Beth Armstrong and
colleagues’ paper discusses characteristics of Aboriginal
English important for speech pathologists to consider when
working with Aboriginal people who have aphasia.
Gwendalyn Webb and Cori Williams present the findings of
their research exploring the perceptions of educators and
parents/carers about Aboriginal children’s communication
and literacy. And last but not least, Anne Hill and colleagues
present their experiences of developing student clinics in
Indigenous contexts.
As Guest Editors of this edition of JCPSLP, it has been
our intent to advocate for both communication and
connection as we, in speech pathology practice, seek to
better understand, value and respect Indigenous ways of
knowing, being and doing. We hope you, the readers of this
journal, will join us on this journey.
References
Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Health. (2014).
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health curriculum
framework
. Canberra: Author.
Indigenous Allied Health Australia (IAHA). (2015).
Cultural
responsiveness in action: An IAHA framework
. Canberra:
Author.
Good health care outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander peoples require health professionals
to be both clinically and culturally capable
(Commonwealth of Australia, 2016)
I
t is timely that the
Journal of Clinical Practice in
Speech-Language Pathology (JCPSLP)
provides this
forum to report on, and in particular, yarn about a
strengths-based approach to clinical practice and research
that engages with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people. At a time when our professional association,
Speech Pathology Australia, is taking active steps to
address inequities in services for Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander individuals, families and communities, it is
exciting to publish this edition that includes papers and
columns addressing contemporary issues.
This edition of the
JCPSLP
represents a collaborative
partnership. The editorial team has worked with Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander speech pathologists, clinicians and
academics in the preparation of this issue. In addition to all
who assisted with reviewing articles we would like to
sincerely thank our colleagues in Indigenous Allied Health
Australia (IAHA), Tara Lewis, Jordana Stanford, Keona Wilson
and Anna Leditschke, and also Shawana Andrews,
Indigenous health lecturer at the University of Melbourne, for
their involvement, advice and wisdom as we have planned
for and prepared this edition of
JCPSLP
. Each article has
undergone double-blind review by two independent
reviewers. In each case at least one of the two reviewers has
been an Indigenous academic or clinician. We are grateful to
all reviewers who have given of their time and expertise in
providing feedback to the authors of these papers.
As stated in the IAHA 2015 publication,
Cultural
Responsiveness in Action: An IAHA Framework
, working
in a culturally responsive way is about strengths-based,
action-oriented approaches to achieving cultural safety
and improved health outcomes through partnerships with
Indigenous individuals, families and communities. The
papers in this edition provide the opportunity for us all to
reflect on and also to act on ways in which we can become
more culturally responsive and committed to achieving
health and educational equality for Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander children, adults and communities.
From the guest editors
Bronwyn Davidson and Chris Brebner