Culturally informed practice and physiotherapy

摘要

Australia is culturally diverse, with more than half (52.2%) of thepopulation born overseas or having at least one parent bornoverseas.1[6_TD$DIF] Since 2005, migration has been the main driver ofAustralia’s population growth, contributing approximately 60% ofoverall growth.1 While historically the bulk of Australia’s overseasborn population comprised migrants from Anglo-Celtic descent, thedismantling of the White Australia Policy four decades ago heraldeda new era of more inclusive migration policies. This saw a sustainedrise in the proportion of migrants to Australia from non-Englishspeaking countries.2 The combination of Indigenous populationsand the long history of immigration has created a culturally rich anddiverse Australia.2 The growth in migrants and refugees, many ofwhom have been displaced due to conflict and persecution, hasfuelled debate about the preparedness of plural societies likeAustralia for the challenges associated with such cultural diversity.One challenge is health system responsiveness; specifically, healthsystems must be responsive to the social, economic and culturalfactors underpinning disparities in health for patients fromculturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. With international migration continuing to rise, it is timely to consider whetherAustralian health professionals, including physiotherapists, areequipped to deliver culturally responsive healthcare.