April 2025
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Physiotherapy students build confidence with interpreters and NESB patients
A collaboration between the Physiotherapy Clinical Educator, Allied Health Education, and the Transcultural & Language Services (TALS) team provided La Trobe University Physiotherapy students with a valuable opportunity to enhance their confidence and develop essential skills in working with interpreters and non-English-speaking background (NESB) patients through a simulated learning scenario. Designed to deepen students’ understanding of effective communication with patients with limited English proficiency, the simulation offered hands-on experience working with interpreters in a healthcare setting. This innovative learning experience allowed students to practice cultural competence in a controlled environment, helping to prepare them for real-world patient interactions. The session…
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Research hub to enhance health equity and diversity
Northern Health and La Trobe University have partnered to advance health services research amid a population boom in Melbourne’s north. The partnership, which officially launched last week at Northern Hospital Epping, will establish a collaborative research hub dedicated to enhancing health equity and diversity research, specifically addressing the needs of one of Victoria’s most diverse and rapidly growing regions. The population of Melbourne’s north, serviced by Northern Health, is expected to grow by more than 50 per cent by 2036, with an additional 290,000 people set to call the region home. The community is rich in cultural diversity, with residents…
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Trauma-informed professional development sessions
Northern Health’s Strengthening Hospital Responses to Family Violence (SHRFV) Program has partnered with the Blue Knot Trauma Foundation to provide Trauma-Informed Professional Development across Northern Health. Trauma is an emotional response that is caused by a distressing event or series of events that can affect a person’s ability to cope and function. In Australia, traumatic experiences are unfortunately widespread, affecting a significant portion of our population. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), approximately 75 per cent of adults have encountered at least one traumatic event during their lifetime. Trauma-informed care focuses on meeting the healthcare needs of…