Messages for Good Practice: Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officers and Hospital Social Workers

ABSTRACT

This article reports the findings of a study about the work of Aboriginal hospital liaison officers (AHLOs) and hospital social workers in Victoria. Guided by an Aboriginal Critical Reference Group, in-depth interviews were held with nine AHLOs, 10 social workers, and three Aboriginal health policy and program informants. Telephone focus groups held with study participants confirmed an analysis of the narratives of good practice and themes identified by participants. Focusing on the strengths of collaborative work, six key principles for good practice were defined. These principles relate to nonbiomedical knowledge and skills that non-Aboriginal social workers and AHLOs require to work well with Aboriginal patients. Implications for training and further research are discussed.

IMPLICATIONS

• Similar elements of shared good practice between AHLOs and social workers were identified across a range of hospital types in Victoria suggesting that this is an important area of social work practice to understand and develop.

• The relationship and practice between AHLOs and social workers were previously underexplored, and the strengths and challenges of their working together practice have the potential to positively impact the hospital stay and health outcomes of Aboriginal patients.

• This study calls for opportunities to further strengthen and facilitate the ongoing, dynamic, and positive relationships between hospital social workers and AHLOs. Working together, they contribute to the creation of cultural safety and care for Aborignal patients and their families.

KEYWORDS:

• Indigenous Knowledge
• Sociocultural Practice
• Hospital Social Work
• Cultural Safety
• Aboriginal Health
• Self-Discharge

Acknowledgements

This article is based on the findings of PhD research and practice of the lead non-Indigenous social worker author with contributions from social work thesis supervisors and an Aboriginal Critical Reference Group. The contribution of all research participants and the critical reference group members are gratefully acknowledged. Contributions by the Aboriginal Critical Reference Group, Marlene Burchill, Lorraine Parsons, and Jim Walker, and the editorial support of Dr Martin Ryan are also gratefully acknowledged.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

Authors wish to acknowledge that the PhD study reported in this article was supported by the Lowitja Institute Australia’s National Institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research.