hearing loss and the criminal justice system - Australian Indigenous ...

Senate Inquiry March 2010_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________INTRODUCTIONMy background is that I have been an educator, psychologist and researcher/consultant inthe Northern Territory for over 30 years. I first worked as a teacher in remote and urbanschools and then as a school psychologist focusing on issues of Indigenous schooling. I havea particular interest in the impact of widespread hearing loss on Indigenous schooling. Mydoctoral studies were on the relationship between Conductive Hearing Loss and schoolbehaviour problems among Indigenous students. Some of this work is outlined in the firstsection of this document.In private practice in Darwin over the last 20 years, I have encountered many issues thatimpact on the over representation of Indigenous people in the criminal justice system.Work in examining the multiple issues involved in cross‐cultural staffing problems in thehealth sector, highlighted aspects of cross‐cultural communication that led to furtherresearch. Some of these research findings are outlined in the last section of this document.Over the last 20 years I have endeavoured, unsuccessfully, to undertake work on thecontribution of widespread hearing loss among Indigenous people to their overrepresentation in the criminal justice system. In this process, I have considered issues andcollected anecdotes that are outlined in this document.TERMS OF REFERENCE1. How the development of social norms and behaviours for Indigenous juveniles andyoung adults can lead to positive social engagement.This submission argues that social norms and behaviours of Indigenous youth areoften influenced by the impact of hearing loss on communication and socialrelations. In particular, there is a compounded effect of cultural differences andhearing loss on communication with police.Recommendations are made as to interventions that can lead to more positive socialengagement with peers, police and others in the criminal justice system.2. The impact that alcohol use and other substance abuse has on the level ofIndigenous juvenile and young adult involvement in the criminal justice system andhow health and justice authorities can work together to address this.This submission does not comment on this.3. Any initiatives that would improve the effectiveness of the education system incontributing to reducing the levels of involvement of Indigenous juveniles andyoung adults with the criminal justice system._________________________________________________________________________________________________________________3 Phoenix Consulting