Meeting the needs of priority populations

On this page

1. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients
2. Culturally and Linguistically Diverse clients
3. Clients with a disability
4. LGBTIQ+ clients
5. Refugees and asylum seeker clients

The wellbeing nurse enables access and provides safe, and culturally sensitive support in a personalised way to priority populations. Priority populations include Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, people with a disability, LGBTIQ+ people, and refugees and asylum seekers.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients

The wellbeing nurse is aware that Aboriginal people have a long and diverse history and strong sense of community and connection to culture. They understand that some Aboriginal people continue to have mistrust in health services due to the ongoing impacts of colonisation and intergenerational trauma.

The wellbeing nurse provides Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients culturally safe support by:

• providing a culturally safe and welcoming environment
• including the client and their family members and people that are important to them in the decisions about their care
• liaising with Aboriginal Health Workers and health professionals Aboriginal Education Officers and Aboriginal community members for guidance, cultural knowledge and support when working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients as appropriate
• offering the client and their family members referrals to specific services for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people where possible.

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse clients

The wellbeing nurse considers the cultural needs, religious values, and language spoken of clients from a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) background. This includes:

• engaging interpreter services in line with NSW Health Policy Directive Interpreters – Standard Procedures for Working with Health Care Interpreters (PD2017_044)
• ensuring written or electronic information provided to clients and family is accessible and in-language if available
• liaising with CALD health professionals for guidance, cultural knowledge and support when working with CALD clients as appropriate
• offering the client and/or their family members referrals to specific services for people from a CALD background where possible.

Clients with a disability

The wellbeing nurse recognises that people with a disability have the right to health care that is inclusive, person-centred and accessible. They understand that children and young people with a disability have the right to express themselves, be heard and exercise self-determination and should be engaged as decision makers about their own health and wellbeing.

The wellbeing nurse supports clients with a disability by:

• placing the client with a disability at the centre of decision making about their health and wellbeing, working with the carer, family members, natural networks of support, and service providers as partners
• assisting the client to obtain adjustments required or requested by the client as appropriate
• ensuring the client with a disability and their family members have access to information in a way they can understand.

LGBTIQ+ clients

When providing care for LGBTIQ+ people, the wellbeing nurse recognises and respects the diversity of bodies, sexes, genders and sexualities in all people.

The wellbeing nurse:

• creates a safe environment where the client can share what language best describes themselves, their health care experiences and needs, relationships and family or support network
• uses appropriate pronouns, language and terminology about bodies, sexuality, gender and intersex variations
• includes the client’s preferred names and pronouns in medical records where possible
• respects and supports the client’s right to affirm their gender in a way that is authentic and meaningful to them
• offers the client and/or their family members referrals to services with gender affirming practices
• understands the mental and emotional distress LGBTIQ+ people may face due to stigma, discrimination, social isolation and experiences of violence and abuse.

Refugees and asylum seeker clients

The wellbeing nurse recognises that people from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds

require culturally responsive and trauma informed care.

People from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds can experience psychological and

physical health issues due to exposure to persecution, conflict, trauma, disrupted schooling and lack of adequate health care. They may also experience language barriers, social exclusion and

isolation, cultural differences, financial barriers, racism and discrimination.

The wellbeing nurse provides refugee and asylum seeker clients with support by:

• using a sensitive, staged approach to history taking and assessments
• engaging interpreter services during consultations with the client and/or their family members whenever required
• consulting with the NSW Refugee Health Service if further advice is required
• offering the client and/or their family members referrals to specific services for refugees and asylum seekers were possible.