Kotuitui
Volume 9, Issue 2, 2014, Pages 50-59

Cultural case workers in child disability services: an evidence-based model of cultural responsiveness for refugee families (Article)

Mortensen A.* , Latimer S. , Yusuf I.
  • a Northern Regional Alliance (NRA) previously NDSA, Auckland, New Zealand, Department of Social Practice, Unitec Institute of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
  • b Child Women and Family Service, Waitemata District Health Board, Waitemata, New Zealand, Department of Social Practice, Unitec Institute of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
  • c Child Development Service, Waitemata District Health Board, Waitemata, New Zealand, Department of Social Practice, Unitec Institute of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand

Abstract

The medical/disabled category for quota refugees selected for resettlement in New Zealand allows entry to those who have either a medical condition that can be treated or helped in New Zealand or a disability that requires support. Children from refugee and other culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds with impairments comprise an increasing proportion of the caseloads of Auckland region child health and disability services. For people from refugee backgrounds, the New Zealand disability system can be complex, difficult to understand and hard to navigate. Disability therapeutic, rehabilitative and support services are often non-existent in countries of origin. The interventions offered in western countries such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech language therapy may be unknown and therefore poorly understood by refugee clients and families. This article presents the findings of an evaluation of the establishment of cultural caseworker positions in the Waitemata District Health Board Child Development Service. © 2014 The Royal Society of New Zealand.

Author Keywords

Disability cultural caseworkers Refugee children New Zealand

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84938534242&doi=10.1080%2f1177083X.2014.911752&partnerID=40&md5=e9339efb7327717a09c69158a2bea583
DOI: 10.1080/1177083X.2014.911752
ISSN: 1177083X
Cited by: 3
Original Language: English