L4 - Experiences as a psych working with aboriginal people in remote settings Flashcards
When working with rural communities - the initial primary focus is on _____ ______
building relationships
building trust and rapport
Why are interpreters very important when trying to help remote communities?
- Help interpret their language
- What actions are appropriate
- What norms are appropriate
As a psychologist, there are guidelines regarding how much we should share about our own lives.
How does this differ in remote Indigenous communities?
In aboriginal communities you must share personal details about yourself, otherwise they wont trust you can you cannot build rapport
Should your treatment be rigid and planned or flexible when working with aboriginal peoples?
flexible
e.g. work at off times, working outside with children rather than in a clinical setting etc.
What does communities complexities refer to when dealing with remote aboriginal peoples?
There are lots of different languages and cultures all within a near vicinity of each other.
What is the cause of intergenerational trauma for indigenous people in Alice Springs?
Stolen Generation
a problem that still lingers
Is there a socio-economic disparity for aboriginals in Alice Springs compared to non-aboriginals?
Yes
$269 p.w. for indigenous
$925 for non-indigenous
What is the Northern Territory Intervention and what important impact did it have for the aboriginal communities in Alice Springs?
Happened in 2007-2008 following allegation of pedophile rings in Alice Springs
It ended anti-discrimination and racial discrimination rules
Kids were taken from their families
Large increase in negative media attention
Incarceration numberes increased
and general increase in discrimination towards aboriginal people
What was the “basics card” that aboriginal people were given following the Northern Territory intervention?
What impact does this have for the aboriginals?
A card that you can only spend money in certain places (e.g. food)
It limits their freedoms
What are we trying to improve in Alice Springs in regards to available services?
Improve connection to services and opportunities
Aboriginal controlled and led services
Where do most aboriginal populations live in rural areas
town camps
official name is “alice springs community living areas” - noone uses this
How many town camps are there in Alice Springs?
12
What is CCPT?
Child-Centered Play Therapy
Involves sitting with a kid in the play room and following a childs lead and narrating their play
Is CCPT helpful in helping aboriginal children who have gone through trauma?
No research is done with aboriginals yet, so hard to say
Is it culturally appropriate for a white person to be one on one with an aboriginal child?
What are the roles of psychologists when working with remote indigenous populations?
6 points
1. Supporting social and emotional wellbeing
2. Assisting families (broader role rather than just helping one individual)
3. Interdisciplinary work (Working not just in one discipline, but working together with others and most importantly with aboriginal family and support workers)
4. Supporting education (helping kids and family feel connected to the education system-also help teachers understand problem kids behaviour)
5. Advocacy (shifting the role from ‘intervention’ to ‘advocacy’ - allow them to be connected to different systems, understand their perspective)
6. Children in care (support children in different environments, help them with system issues)
When working with indigenous peoples, should we be focusing on intervention or advocacy?
What does this mean?
Advocacy
Shift from intervention to advocacy to understand their perspectives and their culture.
What are the two outside determinants that affect “Social and Emotional Wellbeing from the Aboriginal / TSI Perspective”
(Gee et al., 2014)
Social Determinants
Historical Determinants
What are the 7 connections to the self that influence Social and Emotional Wellbeing from the Aboriginal / TSI Perspective?
Connection to:
Spirit, spirituality and ancestors
Body
Mind and Emotions
Family and Kinship
Community
Culture
Country
In what ways should we expect a ‘shift in our expectations’ when working with Indigenous peoples
Why is it vitaly important to have an aboriginal family support worker in your team when working with remote indigenous
Important to co-work with the family and communities
Supports building relationships/rapport
Consultations regarding appropriateness of your work
We need to use appropriate tools for assessment and intervention, however, a problem is that there are limited valid tools available
What is a valid ‘tool’ we may use?
Dr Westerman checklist
to do with mental health with adolescence and young adults
Why is the shift from intervention to advocacy imporatnt?
We have been using the ‘tools of colonization’ as psychologists - which has had a negative impact
In 2016, the APS made an apology to the aboriginal people
What 5 things did the Australian Psychological Society say they would change in their 2016 apology to the aboriginal people?
- Listening more and talking less
- Following more and steering less
- Advocating more and complying less
- Including more and ignoring less and
- Collaborating more and commanding less.
What 4 things can we do to help reconciliation with aboriginal peoples and their culture?
- Find opportunities to recognize and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture (e.g., NAIDOC Week, Reconciliation Week, National Sorry Day…)
- Be willing to be open, continually learning, and self-reflect
- Seek out information and resources to support knowledge and understanding.
- Learn from those who are more experienced, and importantly from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
