Developing a Student Speech Pathology Service with an Aboriginal Medical Service

Student speech pathologists worked with their clinical supervisor and the child health nurse at the Geraldton Regional Aboriginal Medical Service (GRAMS) to develop a new service for families. Prior to the student clinic, families could access speech pathology services with the public health services, but not at their local health service, GRAMS. The new service was developed to run alongside the child health service at GRAMS. It was developed through collaboration, and being mindful of working respectfully within the existing models of care for families at GRAMS. The students developed information resources for families and their initial services were focused around waiting room play based interactions with families and children. This developed key relationships with families and trust in the student services that were also linked with the child health nurse clinic. After a few weeks individual referrals and regular client sessions began to grow and the important waiting room consultations also continues. This service has been in operation for a year and the presenter will share the collaborative process to develop this service, the impact on student learning outcomes and experiences, evaluation of this initial program and the plans for inter-professional expansion.