Question

discuss your course progression 1) Identify 2 (two) critical issues that may influence communication with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

Answer 1

Ans) Discrimination, racism and lack of cultural understanding mean that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people still experience inequality and social injustice. People's cultural beliefs, values and world-views influence thinking, behaviours and interactions with others.

1. Consultation will enable agreed outcomes to be developed and can then be used
to measure success.
2. Measures of success need to be developed by the community for which they are to be used.
3. Cultural safety will differ between communities.
4. Involve Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people in the collaboration process to enhance its meaningfulness to the local community.
5. Keep accurate documentation and records of the feedback. When interviewing,
listen closely and allow time for responses.
6. Analyse feedback carefully and present recommendations in a clear way.
7. Collect quantitative and/or qualitative data for feedback information.
8. Consultation should be employed when revising and implementing any new
strategies.
9. Improvements to cultural safety can be small or large, but either way will require a
redirection of resources for implementation.

Key themes that emerged as barriers to communication for CSPs were their lack of knowledge about the cultural, social and health needs of Aboriginal people; the marginalization of Aboriginal people within the system; and Aboriginal patients' distrust of the health system and fundamental aspects of communication.