A partnership of The Aboriginal Medical Service – Western Sydney (AMS-WS) and The University of SydneyProviding speech pathology services and student learning

Aboriginal Medical ServiceWestern

Sydney Co-operative LTD

KATRINA GOTT | Speech Pathologist/ Clinical Educator

DONNA THOMAS | Speech Pathologist/ Clinical Educator

DR ALISON PURCELL | Clinical Coordinator, Speech Pathology

DR PATRICIA MCCABE | Course Director UG Speech Pathology

Contact - katrina.gott@sydney.edu.au

2

CONTEXT

› Sydney has the greatest Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander population..over 43 000 in 2001.

› Culture just as valued by communities in urban areas

- Speech Pathology intervention needs to embrace the culture of the client.

Obstacles :

- Social and cultural factors e.g. Difference in concept of a disability.

- Economic factors e.g. Transport issues.

- Language, dialect and literacy differences.

Relationship driven health practice

Urban Issues:

3

THE ABORIGINAL MEDICAL SERVICE – WESTERN SYDNEY

AMS – WESTERN SYDNEY:

› Auburn to Lithgow........Windsor to Liverpool

VISION:

› to provide high quality, appropriate, efficient and effective primary health care and related services.

COMMUNITY CONTROLLED ABORIGINAL MEDICAL SERVICE:

› Run by the Aboriginal community for the Aboriginal community.

› The community has a say in the types of services provided.

ONE STOP SHOP FOR ALL HEALTH NEEDS

4

STUDENT SPEECH PATHOLOGY PROGRAM

A partnership was created for delivering speech pathology services

› Community ownership and development.

- The AMS pays The University of Sydney to provide this service. This has helped to maintain recognition of ownership in the community.

› The University of Sydney provides:

- An experienced speech pathology clinical educator in an ongoing capacity. This has particularly helped to maintain relationships.

- 4 - 8 speech pathology students, one day per week each semester. Two individual therapy sessions per student.

- Speech Pathology specific resources and sharing of information.

› The AMS staff provide:

- Welcome, introduction and explanation of the service to speech pathology students.

- Discussion with clients about commitment to the program.

- Weekly phone contact with the families.

- Transport to sessions.

- Aboriginal Health Worker support on site each week.

- Therapy spaces, student work spaces, administrative support and supplies.

5

BENEFITS

› For the clients:

- Culturally appropriate therapy.

- Aboriginal community based – no stigma.

- Supported access to speech pathology for their children.

- Holistic care.

› For the speech pathology students:

- Understanding of Aboriginality and immersion in community.

- Development of Speech Pathology competencies.

- Development of University of Sydney graduate attributes such as, informed and considered professionalism and appropriate and empathetic communication skills.

› For the AMS-WS staff:‒ Exposure to speech and language development expectations.‒ Intervention support ideas.‒ Skill building in identification of speech and language disorders.

6

CHALLENGES› For speech pathology students:

- Variable attendance impacts on student experiences gained

- Fluidity of setting is unsettling for students

- Learning in unfamiliar situations

› For clients:

- An expectation of continuing attendance

- Home practice

- Limited and not ongoing service

› For the AMS staff:

- University semesters clash with year round service and school terms. Creates breaks in service.

‒ Competing space demands.‒ Sourcing adequate funding.

7

WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN?

FOR STUDENTS:

Students have a lot to offer in this setting

“My daughter loved the one on one.”

Students can learn an enormous amount in this setting

“Made us think about what other things they (the clients) are dealing with...not just speech therapy, it’s everything as well”

Students are more confident to engage with the Aboriginal community in the future

“One thing I have learnt is that working with Aboriginal people is not too different to working with non-Aboriginal people. There are differences, but then, there are differences when working with all population groups”

FOR THE COMMUNITY:

The Aboriginal community can readily access Speech Pathology services

“Sam is talking and listening a lot better now”

A viable and positive way for Aboriginal families to engage with their health service and wider community

“ I couldn’t afford speech pathology so am so happy that my kid got to have some”

The community is empowered by the ownership of it’s own service

An Aboriginal perspective to health, wellbeing, learning, communication and support is kept as a priority

8

Aboriginal Medical Service

Western Sydney Co-operative LTD