Ciccone N.Armstrong E.Adams M.Bessarab D.Hersh D.McAllister M.Godecke E.Coffin J.2024-11-192024-11-1920192020-01-31Brain Impairment. Conference: 42nd ASSBI Annual Brain Impairment Conference and the Bi-Annual New Zealand Rehabilitation Association's Conference. Wellington New Zealand. Vol.20(3), 2019, pp. 313.https://dx.doi.org/10.1017/BrImp.2019.29https://lowitja.intersearch.com.au/handle/1/857Background and Objectives: Stroke and traumatic brain injury are more common in Aboriginal Australians than their non-Aboriginal counterparts, yet knowledge surrounding what constitutes a culturally secure and accessible rehabilitation service for Aboriginal Australians is sparse. This research (Lowitja Institute Funding 2018-2019) is working with Aboriginal people with an acquired communication disorder (ACD) following brain injury to (i) develop an understanding of the individual's perceptions of rehabilitation services and (ii) test the feasibility and acceptability of a culturally tailored model of speech pathology rehabilitation delivered via one of two modes: face to face or using telehealth technology. Method(s): Participants (n = 20) with an ACD after stroke or traumatic brain injury will be allocated to one of two groups: face-to-face therapy or therapy utilising telehealth technology and will receive 16 x 1 h treatment sessions provided twice weekly. Therapy utilises collaborative planning, integrates a yarning framework and is provided by a speech pathologist and Aboriginal co-worker. Improvement in participant communication skills is being measured through change in verbal output in discourse. The perspectives of the participants on the rehabilitation services accessed previously, the therapy provided through the study and change in everyday communication will be collected through semi-structured interviews. Result(s): This paper will present the therapy protocol, an explanation of the key elements involved in therapy implementation and some preliminary findings. Conclusion(s): The findings from this study will provide direction for rehabilitation therapists who provide services to Aboriginal brain injury survivors to improve quality of care.Conference AbstractNeurologySpeech pathology(Ciccone, Armstrong, Hersh, McAllister, Godecke) School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia(Adams) Health InfoNet, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia(Bessarab) Centre for Aboriginal Medical and Dental Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia(Coffin) Nulungu Research Institute, Notre Dame University, Broome, Australia