A partnership of The Aboriginal Medical Service – Western Sydney (AMS-WS) and The University of Sydney

1. 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- katrina.gott@sydney.edu.au

2. 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 inconcept of a disability. • Economic factors e.g. Transport issues. • Language, dialect and literacy differences. Relationship driven health practice

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 ofUniversity of Sydneygraduate 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