Presentation to the Victorian Bar Association on Indigenous hearing loss and the criminal justice system (2012)

Description

This video recording provides advice for those working within the criminal justice system for improving communication with people who have hearing loss or other listening problems. Dr Damien Howard's presentation to the Victorian Bar explains how hearing loss impacts on justice and offender rehabilitation.

Key aspects of improving communication include:

• preparing people for the criminal justice process
• allowing people to tell the story in their own way
• informing people of topic changes
• watching for facial and body language cues to misunderstanding
• avoiding jargon and technical terms
• using amplification devices, as appropriate
• avoiding judgements of intelligence and honesty on the basis of speaking capacity.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

Contact details

Dr Damien Howard
Psychologist
Phoenix Consulting
PO Box 793
Nightcliff NT 0814
Ph: (08) 8948 4444
Fax: (08) 8948 3838
Email: damien@phoenixconsulting.com.au

Links

• View resource: Presentation to the Victorian Bar Association on Indigenous hearing loss and the criminal justice system [online video, 7:43]
• View information: Significant hearing loss for Aboriginal inmates in NT correctional facilities
• View information: Presentation to the Victorian Bar Association on Indigenous hearing loss and the criminal justice system [audio only, 7:43]
• View news item: Hearing loss hits NT Indigenous inmates

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