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Non-standard dialects, such as Australian Aboriginal English (AAE), are spoken across the globe, often by peoples from marginalised groups and communities. Speech-language pathologists in Australia need to be familiar with AAE in order to correctly and appropriately diagnose and intervene with Aboriginal clients. The purpose of this study was to identify the presence of AAE in the communication of pre-school-aged children in a regional area and to describe the features of AAE that these children used. Interactions between early childhood educators and children were videotaped for a sample of 21 Aboriginal and 21 non-Aboriginal children. From these videos specific features of AAE were coded and analysed using parametric and non-parametric tests. The communication of the sample of Aboriginal children differed significantly from that of the non-Aboriginal children. Several features of AAE were identified within this cohort, including: cluster reduction, zero use of /h/ and zero use of copula. Differences in dialect exist in the communication of pre-school-aged children in regional areas of Australia. It is important for educators and health professionals to be aware of the features of AAE dialect so they can support Aboriginal children in their learning journey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is one of the most significant initiatives in Australian social policy history. Its complexity has been compounded by a fast-paced introduction and ongoing refinement throughout the initial trial phase. Parents and carers of very young disabled children face particular challenges accessing and navigating NDIS systems. This article presents findings from a mixed-method pilot study examining the perspectives of parents and carers of disabled children in one NDIS trial site – the Hunter Region of New South Wales. The research highlights a number of policy assumptions potentially impacting on NDIS take up for young disabled children and their families in regional contexts. Based on research findings a number of policy suggestions and improvements for disabled children and their families entering the NDIS and other individualised funding schemes are outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Patient safety is compromised if vital clinical information is not available to all members of the healthcare team. Therefore, it is important to understand the differences between patient information found in nursing documentation and information presented at clinical nursing handover. Content and textual analyses of two data sets were undertaken: one containing 67 examples of nursing documentation and the other containing 195 transcripts of clinical handover to understand the scope and construction of patient information found in each communication system. Clinical handover produced a comprehensive picture of the patient's condition and care whereas nursing documentation tended to present a series of descriptions of tasks performed by nurses. There is a need to investigate new systems of communication promoting congruence between clinical handover and nursing documentation to ensure that all patient information can be accessed by all interested parties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the impact of restructuring, conducted under the auspices of new public sector management, on the delivery of hospital based nursing care. Alderfer's model of 'overbounded' and 'underbounded' systems is used to analyse the way in which the organisation and delivery of nursing care has changed. Nursing was traditionally organised in an overbounded system which nevertheless focussed clearly and primarily on the provision of excellence in patient care. Recent research and examples from case law illustrate how nursing has moved into an underbounded system, where lines of authority and accountability are crossed and blurred. This can lead to practices of 'responsible subversion' which leave nurses feeling dissatisfied, guilty and marginalised. New management models are required to address the multiple and competing authority relations and imprecise, incomplete and overlapping role definitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]