Course Title: Work effectively with culturally diverse clients and co-workers

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2013

Course Code: EMPL5932C

Course Title: Work effectively with culturally diverse clients and co-workers

School: 365T Global Studies, Soc Sci & Plng

Campus: City Campus

Program: C4313 - Certificate IV in Community Development

Course Contact : Julian Silverman

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4578

Course Contact Email:julian.silverman@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Nominal Hours: 20

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None.

Course Description

This unit deals with the cultural and linguistic awareness required for effective communication and cooperation with persons of diverse cultures and linguistic needs.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

HLTHIR403C Work effectively with culturally diverse clients and co-workers

Element:

Accept cultural diversity as a basis for effective work place and professional relationships

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Show respect for cultural diversity in all communication and interactions with co-workers, colleagues and clients
2.2 Use specific strategies to eliminate bias and discrimination in the workplace
2.3 Contribute to the development of work place and professional relationships based on acceptance of cultural diversity

Element:

Communicate effectively with culturally diverse persons

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Show respect for cultural diversity in all communication with clients, families, staff and others
3.2 Use communication constructively to develop and maintain effective relationships, mutual trust and confidence
3.3 Where language barriers exist, make efforts to communicate in the most effective way possible
3.4 Seek assistance from interpreters or other persons as required

Element:

Reflect cultural awareness in work practice

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Demonstrate awareness of culture as a factor in all human behaviour by using informed culturally appropriate work practices
1.2 Use work practices that create a culturally and psychologically safe environment for all persons
1.3 Review and modify work practices in consultation with persons from diverse cultural backgrounds

Element:

Resolve cross-cultural misunderstandings

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Identify issues that may cause conflict
4.2 If difficulties or misunderstandings occur, consider the impact of cultural differences
4.3 Make an effort to sensitively resolve differences, taking account of cultural considerations
4.4 Address any difficulties with appropriate people and seek assistance when required


Learning Outcomes


  


Details of Learning Activities

You will attend an all-day workshop in which you will participate in activities including role-plays, discussions and presentations related to engaging communities in the community development process as part of specific initiatives. Self-directed study activities to be completed outside of the workshop include reflecting on your cultural awareness in your work practice and accepting cultural diversity as a basis for effective work place and professional relationships. In addition to this, you will be assessed on your ability to communicate effectively with culturally diverse persons and resolve cross-cultural misunderstandings.


Teaching Schedule

Please note: While your teacher will cover all the material in this schedule, the weekly order is subject to change depending on class needs and availability of speakers and resources.

 

Elective Unit 2
Class Content Learning Elements
Work effectively with culturally diverse clients and co-workers The focus of this workshop will be on developing skills in intercultural communication and problem solving. The workshop will involve practical individual and group activities combined with presentations from staff. 1. Reflect cultural awareness in work practice
2. Accept cultural diversity as a basis for effective work place and professional relationships
3. Communicate effectively with culturally diverse persons
4. Resolve cross-cultural misunderstandings


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems and access to specialised facilities and relevant software. You will also have access to the library resources.


References


Other Resources

You will be issued a reading kit that includes links to relevant web resources upon commencement of this course. It will contain articles and instructional materials that relate to this workshop and it will be developed in consultation with industry experts in the community development sector.

Web links for this workshop:
Cultural Competence Guidelines and Protocols – Ethnic Communities Centre of Victoria
http://eccv.org.au/library/doc/CulturalCompetenceGuidelinesandProtocols.pdf
Cultural competence – South Eastern Sydney Illawarra Area Health Service
http://www.sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au/multicultural_health_service/culturalcomp.asp
Cultural competence tipsheets – Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health
http://www.ceh.org.au/culturalcompetence.aspx


Overview of Assessment

Assessment is ongoing throughout the course. Assessment will incorporate a range of methods to assess performance and the application of knowledge and skills and will include:

- Self and Supervisor Assessment
- Evaluation Report
- Simulation


Assessment Tasks

In order to demonstrate competence in this course you will need to satisfactorily complete the following assessment tasks:

Self and Supervisor Assessment
You and your supervisor will be asked to evaluate your ability to embrace cultural diversity as a basis for effective community development practise and workplace relationships. In particular, you will be assessed on your ability to communicate effectively with culturally diverse community members and resolve cross-cultural misunderstandings. This includes being able to demonstrate culture awareness in all facets of your work. In addition to this, you will demonstrate how to communicate appropriately with clients and colleagues of diverse cultural backgrounds and how to avoid and manage cross-cultural misunderstandings.

Evaluation Report
You will complete a report evaluating the effectiveness of your ability to work in a cross-cultural context. This will include examining how you were able to communicate effectively and manage and prevent conflicts within a diverse community work setting. Records of these situations and how they were managed will be presented along with your report.

Simulation
As part of the workshop you will engage in a hypothetical scenario in which you will demonstrate how you are able to communicate effectively with a group of culturally diverse, potential clients in a meeting. You will conduct a professional discussion in which you demonstrate your ability to work effectively with people of diverse cultural backgrounds and avoid potential misunderstandings based on cultural differences.


Assessment Matrix

Course Overview: Access Course Overview