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Australian South Sea Islanders

Flexibility

When dealing with a culturally sensitive issue, experienced health staff members agree that the best thing you can do is to remain flexible. Flexibility allows you to come up with creative solutions.

As one health staff member put it:

I try to fit the system to the client, not the client to the system.

For any one situation, there are many possible solutions.

What ideas did you come up with?

Perhaps you decided to set up a meeting between Louise and an Australian South Sea Islander health staff member, or a female health staff member.
Perhaps you went with Louise to the sexual health clinic, thus providing moral support.
Perhaps you gave Louise pamphlets about a range of problems and gave her some time alone to read through them.
Perhaps you encouraged Louise to ask questions.

There is no right or wrong answer. However, knowledge of the culture will help you create a workable, effective solution.

Consider the ideas that you have jotted down as you read David's solution.

David's solution

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Last Updated: 19 June 2003
Last Reviewed: 19 June 2003