Speech-language pathologists' perceptions and experiences when working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

PURPOSE: This study explored the perceptions of speech-language pathologists with regards to culturally responsive service delivery, assessment practices, and confidence when working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. METHOD: An online survey was used. Descriptive statistics were analysed with SPSS. Themes were derived from text responses using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis method. RESULT: The 48 respondents were almost all non-Indigenous, equally spread across metropolitan and non-metropolitan regions, and had varied levels of experience. Respondents reported moderate to high levels of confidence. Identified barriers included accessibility, policy, impacts of colonisation, awareness of services and expectations and speech pathologist knowledge, training and experience. Engagement emerged as a facilitator to provision of culturally responsive services. A variety of speech-language pathology assessment methods were reported, not all of which were consistent with current recommendations. CONCLUSION: Identified barriers and facilitators were consistent with previous research exploring work with adults with acquired communication disorders. A need to explore the perspectives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities as users of speech-language pathology services was identified. Clinical implications are described for future training, clinical guidelines, and flexible service delivery.

A longitudinal study of health outcomes for people released from prison in Fiji: the HIP-Fiji project.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the health of prisoners and ex-prisoners in Fiji, including risk behaviours, service access and HIV status. METHODS: Longitudinal study of 198 men and women recruited prior to release from prison in Fiji, interviewed in the weeks preceding release, and again 1 and 4 months post-release. Dried blood spot samples taken at baseline were tested for HIV. RESULTS: Eighty percent of participants completed at least one follow-up interview. The prevalence of HIV was low (1%), despite evidence of widespread STI and BBV risk behaviours. A history of risky substance use was normative and more than a third reported high psychological distress prior to release. Fewer than one in four reported accessing health care within a month of release from prison. CONCLUSIONS: The health needs of this population are significant but differ in important ways from those of incarcerated populations in other countries. Further research is needed to inform evidence-based care for prisoners and ex-prisoners in Pacific Island nations.