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.

摘要

本文报告了一项关于维多利亚州土著医院联络官 (AHLO) 和医院社会工作者工作的研究结果。在原住民重要参考小组的指导下，对 9 名 AHLO、10 名社会工作者和 3 名原住民健康政策和计划的知情人进行了深入访谈。与研究参与者举行的电话焦点小组确认了对参与者确定的良好做法和主题的叙述的分析。着眼于协作工作的优势，定义了良好实践的六项关键原则。这些原则涉及非土著社会工作者和 AHLO 与土著患者良好合作所需的非生物医学知识和技能。讨论了对培训和进一步研究的影响。

影响

• 在维多利亚州的一系列医院类型中确定了 AHLO 和社会工作者之间共享良好实践的类似元素，这表明这是社会工作实践需要理解和发展的一个重要领域。

• AHLO 和社会工作者之间的关系和实践以前未被充分探索，他们一起工作的优势和挑战有可能对土著患者的住院时间和健康结果产生积极影响。

• 本研究呼吁有机会进一步加强和促进医院社会工作者与 AHLO 之间持续、动态和积极的关系。他们共同努力，为土著患者及其家人创造文化安全和关怀做出了贡献。