Low uptake of Aboriginal interpreters in healthcare: exploration of current use in Australia’s Northern Territory

Low uptake of Aboriginal interpreters in healthcare: exploration of current use in Australia’s Northern Territory

BMC Health Services Research

• Author(s): Ralph, Anna P., Lowell, Anne, Murphy, Jean, Dias, Tara, Butler, Deborah, Spain, Brian, Hughes, Jaquelyne T., Campbell, Lauren, Bauert, Barbara, Salter, Claire, Tune, Kylie, Cass, Alan
• Published: 2017
• Volume: 17
• ISBN: 1472-6963

Link to resource Report broken link

Abstract: In Australia’s Northern Territory, most Aboriginal people primarily speak an Aboriginal language. Poor communication between healthcare providers and Aboriginal people results in adverse outcomes including death. This study aimed to identify remediable barriers to utilisation of Aboriginal Interpreter services at the Northern Territory’s tertiary hospital, which currently manages over 25,000 Aboriginal inpatients annually.

• Urls: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-017-2689-y
• Keywords: Natural translation, Interpreter bookings, Aboriginal inmates, Barrier process, Cultural competency training