JCPSLP vol 19 no 3 2017 low res. pdf

45 / 64

JCPSLP Volume 19, Number 3 2017 159
partnership was established and many of the intervention
practices that the placement has promoted over the past
four years are now considered routine. The sustainability of
practices is very strong, and there is clear indication that
the organisation values the partnership.
The importance of partnerships
Key features of a sustainable activity, according to the
World Health Organization (2016), include integration
into available services, community ownership, and use
of resources mobilised by community and government.
Establishing trust, developing relationships and
building meaningful partnerships are processes
essential to the success of NUSpeech. Academic staff,
clinical educators and students alike spend specific
time and energy developing relationships and
connecting with key stakeholders, including
organisational directors, teaching staff, clinical staff,
caregivers, the children and other members of the local
communities (hotel staff, taxi drivers, restaurant
owners) and government departments.
For international placements to be successful
it is important to have at least one in-country
“champion”. This person is the linchpin to all other key
stakeholders; they provide knowledge and support for
managing local politics, processes and paperwork,
as well as assisting to establish new relationships and
nurture existing ones.
Cultural preparation and language lessons
During the orientation program students complete four
hours of language and cultural lessons by native
Vietnamese speakers. This allows the students to begin to
familiarise themselves with the culture, learn common
greetings and key words, and focus on understanding the
segmental and suprasegmental (tones) features of the
language. Students experience the complexities of learning
about communicating in a foreign language, interpretation
and translation. Students also begin to learn about the
culture of Viet Nam and the importance of delivering a
culturally appropriate service. This is vital if the work
delivered by the students is to be meaningful, accepted and
sustainable (Atherton et al., 2013; Wylie et al., 2016).
Clinical educator training and support
The university clinical educators are an important
stakeholder in the model, to maintain relationships, build
trust and enhance the sustainability of the placement and
practices. Therefore, preparation, extensive handover and
debrief on-shore and off-shore is essential. It is the
observation of the authors that local introduction to key
stakeholders, the environment, and the caseload are
integral to the creation and maintenance of partnerships.
Therefore, in the NUSpeech model, in each placement one
experienced clinical educator is involved to easily manage
transfer of knowledge, maintain relationships, and
understand the organisational needs. One of our partner
organisations has changed remarkably since the
Phase 2. Placement
Environment
Language lessons
Competency assessment
Reflection on action
Supervision
Phase 3. Debrief
& dissemination
Debrief
Reflection in action
Competency assessment
Dissemination
Graduate attributes
Phase 1. Preparation
Student attributes
Reflection before action
Clinical preparation
Cultural preparation
Educator support
Cultural responsiveness
Sustainability
Partnerships
Capacity building
Figure 2. NUSpeech: A model for international clinical placements in speech-language pathology