Cross-Cultural Interpreting With Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Patients

2021 ◽  
pp. 104973232110288
Author(s):  
Maria Karidakis
Keyword(s):  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Culturally Appropriate ◽  
Medical Terminology ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Medical Settings ◽  
Health Care Settings ◽  
Torres Strait ◽  
Communication Differences ◽  
Perceived Experiences

The aim of this study is to investigate ways in which interpreting practice in health care settings can be further developed to better facilitate communication with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients. Data used include 15 hours of transcribed audio recording from semi-structured interviews with interpreters and Aboriginal Liaison Officers who discuss their perceived experiences of interpreting in medical settings. They offer insights into how language is used to resolve communication differences that may confound the interpreting process and in doing so identify roles interpreters assume and discourse patterns that emerge in interpreting practice. As evidenced through the findings, provisions need to be made for cultural differences. Interpreters report they have to “unpack” medical terminology and explain such terminology and related concepts in tangible terms to ensure patient understanding. Other strategies include talking about taboo topics using culturally appropriate terms, avoiding certain question–answer routines, and being aware of nonverbal aspects of communication.

Developing a Cultural Protocol for Evaluation

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 11-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison Rogers ◽  
Madeleine Bower ◽  
Cathy Malla ◽  
Sharon Manhire ◽  
Deborah Rhodes
Keyword(s):  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
External Support ◽  
Culturally Appropriate ◽  
Evaluation Capacity Building ◽  
Program Evaluations ◽  
Indigenous Australia ◽  
External Evaluators ◽  
Torres Strait ◽  
Internal Evaluators

Evaluation is understood to be important for ensuring programs and organisations are effective and relevant. Evaluation findings, however, can be potentially inappropriate or not useful if those who have an in-depth understanding of the context are not involved in guidance, direction or implementation. The Fred Hollows Foundation's Indigenous Australia Program (IAP), with more than half of its employees identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, has developed a cultural protocol for evaluation to strengthen the quality of its program evaluations, whether they are carried out by internal staff or external evaluators. The development of the protocol was initiated after an evaluation capacity building appraisal identified the potential benefits of increased external support to undertake evaluation activities, and the requirement for this external support to be undertaken in a culturally appropriate manner. The protocol was developed by combining IAP's experience and knowledge with contemporary evaluation and research approaches, particularly those developed for use in cross-cultural settings, with the aim of producing a meaningful and locally relevant resource. The protocol aims to assist staff and external evaluators to ensure that evaluation activities are undertaken with the appropriate respect for, and participation of, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and communities. Consistent with IAP principles, those involved in the process of developing the protocols sought to ensure that engagement between staff, evaluators and evaluation participants occurs in culturally-appropriate ways. IAP believes that the protocol will contribute to stronger evaluation practices, deeper understanding and thus, more useful outcomes. This article describes the process of engaging IAP staff with contextual evidence and the literature around cultural protocols to create a meaningful tool that is useful in our particular context. The process of development described will be useful for: organisations undertaking initiatives that source external evaluators; internal evaluators engaging with external expertise; or evaluators linking with organisations working in a cross-cultural setting.

scholarly journals Optimal Cancer Care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People: A Shared Approach to System Level Change

2020 ◽  
pp. 108-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Chynoweth ◽  
Meaghan M. McCambridge ◽  
Helen M. Zorbas ◽  
Jacinta K. Elston ◽  
Robert J.S. Thomas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Care Pathway ◽  
System Level ◽  
Culturally Appropriate ◽  
Torres Strait Islander People ◽  
Cultural Appropriateness ◽  
Torres Strait

PURPOSE To improve cancer outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through the development and national endorsement of the first population-specific optimal care pathway (OCP) to guide the delivery of high-quality, culturally appropriate, and evidence-based cancer care. METHODS An iterative methodology was undertaken over a 2-year period, and more than 70 organizations and individuals from diverse cultural, geographic, and sectorial backgrounds provided input. Cancer Australia reviewed experiences of care and the evidence base and undertook national public consultation with the Indigenous health sector and community, health professionals, and professional colleges. Critical to the OCP development was the leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health experts and consumers. RESULTS The OCP received unanimous endorsement by all federal, state, and territory health ministers. Key elements of the OCP include attention to the cultural appropriateness of the health care environment; improvement in cross-cultural communication; relationship building with local community; optimization of health literacy; recognition of men’s and women’s business; and the need to use culturally appropriate resources. The OCP can be used as a tool for health services and health professionals to identify gaps in current cancer services and to inform quality improvement initiatives across all aspects of the care pathway. CONCLUSION The development of the OCP identified a number of areas that require prioritization. Ensuring culturally safe and accessible health services is essential to support early presentation and diagnosis. Multidisciplinary treatment planning and patient-centered care are required for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, irrespective of location. Health planners and governments acknowledge the imperative for change and have expressed strong commitment to work with Indigenous Australians to improve the accessibility, cultural appropriateness, and quality of cancer care.

Cracking the cultural code

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 215-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dhara Shah ◽  
Michelle Barker
Keyword(s):  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Cultural Learning ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Cultural Training ◽  
Workplace Interactions ◽  
Intercultural Skills ◽  
Cross Cultural Training ◽  
Cultural Code ◽  
Communication Differences ◽  
Cross Cultural Management

The growth of Indian Information Technology (IT) sector has resulted in many Indian IT expatriates conducting projects at international client sites. Yet little is known about the sociocultural communication challenges these expatriates encounter. Adopting a qualitative, interpretive approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 47 Indian IT expatriates at client sites in Australia. The cultural validation and sociocultural competencies framework of the Excellence in Cultural Experiential Learning and Leadership Intercultural Skills Program was used to analyse expatriates’ workplace interactions. Respondents reported a lack of understanding of the ‘unwritten’ sociocultural communication rules in Australia. Communication differences contributed to their frustrations and dissatisfaction during expatriation. Insights into Indian IT expatriates’ experiences of negotiating communication competencies abroad can inform cross-cultural management scholarship and cross-cultural training. Making cultural norms explicit by embedding a cultural learning framework in cross-cultural training programs can contribute to productive, culturally diverse workplaces. The findings may provide fresh perspectives for organizations who prepare or receive expatriates, especially Indian professionals on assignment in Australia or other western countries.

scholarly journals The Need to Extend Beyond the Knowledge Gained in Cross-Cultural Awareness Training

2008 ◽  
Vol 37 (S1) ◽  
pp. 81-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bronwyn Fredericks
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Awareness ◽  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Awareness Training ◽  
Torres Strait Islander People ◽  
Aboriginal Women ◽  
Torres Strait ◽  
Selection Of ◽  
Improve Service Delivery

Abstract In the Health sector, Cross-Cultural Awareness Training has been seen as a way to improve knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to therefore improve service delivery and therapeutic care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Health personnel may have undertaken this type of training in their workplace or as part of their education in an undergraduate degree program. Other sectors additionally undertake Cross-Cultural Awareness Training for similar reasons and in similar educational settings. This paper includes the views of a selection of Aboriginal women and highlights the need to extend beyond knowledge gained through Cross-Cultural Awareness Training to Anti-Racism Training. Furthermore, that Anti-Racism Training and addressing white race privilege is required in order to address the inequities within the health system, the marginalisation and disempowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

scholarly journals Dreaming Inside: An evaluation of a creative writing program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men in prison

2020 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 285-302
Author(s):  
Natalia Hanley ◽  
Elena Marchetti
Keyword(s):  
Creative Writing ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Writing Program ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Prison Programs ◽  
Learning Retention ◽  
Self Confidence ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Torres Strait

Arts-based prison programs are often viewed as hobbies or as activities that have little impact on prisoner rehabilitation according to conventional understandings of the term. This is despite growing evidence that arts-based programs can assist with learning retention and can improve self-confidence and ways of coping with emotions. Generally, arts practices have been found to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have grown up or live in urban areas with asserting and strengthening their cultural identity, but we know little about the effects of arts-based prison programs on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoner wellbeing. This article focuses on a creative writing program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners at Junee Correctional Centre, New South Wales. The program, Dreaming Inside, has produced seven volumes of poetry and stories. This article combines and reports findings from two evaluations of the program, one using program feedback forms and the other using semi-structured interviews with prisoners who participated in the program. The themes that emerged from both evaluations affirm the program’s efficacy in improving prisoner self-esteem, confidence and wellbeing, and in reigniting and strengthening cultural engagement.

scholarly journals Talking about suicide: An uncontrolled trial of the effects of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health first aid program on knowledge, attitudes and intended and actual assisting actions

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. e0244091
Author(s):  
Gregory Armstrong ◽  
Georgina Sutherland ◽  
Eliza Pross ◽  
Andrew Mackinnon ◽  
Nicola Reavley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
First Aid ◽  
Mental Health First Aid ◽  
Culturally Appropriate ◽  
Training Course ◽  
Uncontrolled Trial ◽  
Suicidal Person ◽  
Torres Strait

Objective Suicide is a leading cause of death among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Friends, family and frontline workers (for example, teachers, youth workers) are often best positioned to provide initial assistance if someone is at risk of suicide. We developed culturally appropriate expert consensus guidelines on how to provide mental health first aid to Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experiencing suicidal thoughts or behaviour and used this as the basis for a 5-hour suicide gatekeeper training course called Talking About Suicide. This paper describes the outcomes for participants in an uncontrolled trial of this training course. Methods We undertook an uncontrolled trial of the Talking About Suicide course, delivered by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health First Aid instructors to 192 adult (i.e. 18 years of age or older) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (n = 110) and non-Indigenous (n = 82) participants. Questionnaires capturing self-report outcomes were self-administered immediately before (n = 192) and after attending the training course (n = 188), and at four-months follow-up (n = 98). Outcome measures were beliefs about suicide, stigmatising attitudes, confidence in ability to assist, and intended and actual actions to assist a suicidal person. Results Despite a high level of suicide literacy among participants at pre-course measurement, improvements at post-course were observed in beliefs about suicide, stigmatising attitudes, confidence in ability to assist and intended assisting actions. While attrition at follow-up decreased statistical power, some improvements in beliefs about suicide, stigmatising attitudes and intended assisting actions remained statistically significant at follow-up. Importantly, actual assisting actions taken showed dramatic improvements between pre-course and follow-up. Participants reported feeling more confident to assist a suicidal person after the course and this was maintained at follow-up. The course was judged to be culturally appropriate by those participants who identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders. Implications The results of this uncontrolled trial were encouraging, suggesting that the Talking About Suicide course was able to improve participants’ knowledge, attitudes, and intended assisting actions as well as actual actions taken.

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