HLTHIR404D - Scenario: Aboriginal Child With Suspected Anemia

[magic_dudu]

Hi everyone,
I would like some advice on the following case study:
An older Aboriginal woman comes to the early childhood education and care service where you work as a Director. She has a 4 year old girl with her, and is accompanied by 3 of her female relatives. You explain the enrolment process to them, including asking questions about the child’s personal details and medical history.
It appears, from what the person and their family are able to tell you and the child’s appearance, that the child may be suffering from anaemia. You feel that medical attention may be warranted for assessment and diagnostic purposes.
You also notice that when the women and her relatives are responding to your questions, they are looking down and you wonder if they are taking you seriously.
Task: Outline the culturally appropriate approach you would consider in dealing with the enrolment of the newly arrived child.
My answer: I would make sure to communicate with the family respectfully and engage in shared decision– making. Explain the enrolment process is an important process in establishing and building a trusting partnership between our centre and them. I will try to investigate their child’s health condition by asking a few more detailed questions in a very patient and polite way, because it is crucial for us to have the correct information of each child, therefore we will be able to know what the correct procedures we need to take when there is an emergency happening to the child. I would also explain the benefits of using our service, how it can assist the child’s health, development and learning, and encourage families to ask for support and information and to share their cultural practices with staff.
I feel that there is something missing in my answer. Any suggestion would be appreciated!
Thank you.

Melody

[Lorina]

You're off to a good start. It's a fairly common cultural practice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people not to make direct contact when speaking to others. So, maybe you can also include some common cultural protocols within the scenario to help answer the question. For example: Since they don't make direct eye contact, instead of sitting across from them you could possibly sit next to them etc.

The following will help:

Working and Walking Together

Hope this helps,

,
Lorina

[magic_dudu]

Hi Lorina,
Thank you for your reply. I really appreciate that.
Could you please also advise on the following:
I am the director or an early childhood education and care service where one of my staff is an Indigenous person who has not turned up for work for the past two weeks, although her approved leave was only one week. Discuss the possible reasons for her extended leave and how I could find a resolution so the same problem is less likely to occur in the future.

Thank you for your time.

Melody