A partnership of The Aboriginal Medical Service – Western Sydney (AMS-WS) and The University of Sydney Providing speech pathology services and student learning 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 - [email protected] Aboriginal Medical Service Western Sydney Co-operative LTD CONTEXT Urban Issues: › 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 2 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 3 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. 4 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. 5 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. 6 WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN? FOR STUDENTS: FOR THE COMMUNITY:  Students have a lot to offer in this setting  The Aboriginal community can readily access Speech Pathology services “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” “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 7 Aboriginal Medical Service Western Sydney Co-operative LTD 8