Helping students to aid the self-determination of their clients
The Australian Government attorney general’s office defines self-determination as ‘at a minimum, entailing the entitlement of people to have control over their destiny and to be treated respectfully. This includes people being free to pursue their economic, social and cultural development.’
Supporting students to give patients/clients enough information so that the patients/clients feel empowered to have control over their destiny and to be treated respectfully is an important role for student supervisors. This can be done indirectly via role modelling respectful behaviour and a patient centred approach, and directly through the provision of resources and teaching to aid a student's professional development and understanding in this area.
Resources that might support students in gaining an understanding of self-determination include:
- Charter of aged care rights
- Patient-Centred Care: Improving Quality and Safety by Focusing Care on Patients and Consumers discussion paper
- Aged Care quality standards – standard 1: consumer dignity and choice
Student supervisors could ask students to reflect on how their placement site supports the rights of consumers in line with the Charter of Aged Care Rights
