Semin Speech Lang
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1776755

Elizabeth Armstrong

1   University Department of Rural Health, Edith Cowan University, Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia

,

Kerri Colegate

2   School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

,

Lenny Papertalk

3   WA Centre for Rural Health, University of Western Australia, Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia

,

Stuart Crowe

2   School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

,

Meaghan McAllister

2   School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

,

Deborah Hersh

4   Curtin School of Allied Health, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

,

Natalie Ciccone

2   School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

,

Erin Godecke

2   School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

,

Judith Katzenellenbogen

5   Cardiovascular Epidemiology Research Centre, School of Population and Global Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

,

Juli Coffin

6   Ngangk Yira Institute for Change, Murdoch University, Broome, Western Australia, Australia

› Author Affiliations Funding This work was supported by grants provided by the National Health and Medical Research Council (#1132468) and the Neurotrauma Research Program.
   Buy Article Permissions and Reprints Abstract

In this article, we explore the benefits of recognizing the impact of intersectionality on access to, and provision of, brain injury care in a First Nations context. While disadvantage and discrimination are often associated with the intersection of culture, gender, disability, and socioeconomic disadvantage, it is only when these factors are explored together that clinicians can really understand what people need to recover and thrive following acquired brain injury. In this article, we challenge speech-language pathologists to examine their own practices, to look beyond Western models of health and constraints of many current institutional models of care and ways of framing research, to acknowledge historical and ongoing colonizing influences, and to engage with community-led solutions. We provide a model of Aboriginal-led care, where intersection of discrimination and marginalization is minimized and the multiple components of the individual, carers/communication partners, and the environment become empowering factors instead.

Keywords Aboriginal - First Nations - brain injury - intersectionality - stroke Publication History

Article published online:
22 November 2023

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