“Working together… I can't stress how important it is”: Indigenous Health Liaison Officers’ insights into working with speech-language pathologists and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with stroke and TBI

Abstract

Purpose

Providing culturally safe speech-language pathology services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with acquired communication disorders (ACDs) may be challenging for non-Indigenous speech-language pathologists (SLPs). Indigenous Health Liaison Officers (IHLOs) may share common histories and culture with patients, and provide valuable insights about cultural safety. The study aim was to explore IHLOs’ experiences of working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults post-stroke or traumatic brain injury (TBI), and with the SLPs who provide services to these peoples.

Method

Using an interpretive description collaborative research design informed by culturally responsive principles, IHLOs (n = 7) participated in interviews facilitated by Aboriginal researchers and the principal investigator. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis, informed by perspectives of Aboriginal researchers.

Result

Two themes, Connection and Spirit and Emotion, and six interdependent categories described how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have, and need, strong connections to family, country, health professionals, and ACD practices. Without these connections, patients’ wellbeing may be deeply affected.

Conclusion

SLPs must collaborate with IHLOs and patients’ family members and draw on their cultural knowledge, expertise, and guidance when working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and ensure connections are created. These connections contribute to culturally safe and responsive speech-language pathology practice.

Keywords:

• Indigenous
• cultural liaison
• speech-language pathology
• stroke
• brain injury
• Indigenous Health Liaison Officer

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land upon which this research was conducted and we pay our respects to their Elders, past and present. We sincerely thank the Indigenous Health Liaison Officers who shared their stories and culture so generously in the trust that these stories will contribute to enhanced health services for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, not only those who have experienced brain injury. We also thank the hospital’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Leadership Advisory Council for their collaboration and support of this research. The first author also extends her sincere gratitude to the Aboriginal researchers. This research and powerful learnings would not have been possible without their spirit, generosity, and support. We also thank SLP Brittany Vella for assisting for some of the initial data analysis.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by a Speech Pathology Australia New Researcher Grant.