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

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2014

Course Code: EMPL5966C

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

School: 360T Education

Campus: Brunswick Campus

Program: C5290 - Diploma of Education Support

Course Contact : Soosan Kian

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 9183

Course Contact Email:soosan.kian@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Margaret Hanrahan margaret.hanrahan@rmit.edu.au 9925 9494

Linda Finger linda.finger@rmit.edu.au 9925 9494

Soosan Kian soosan.kian@rmit.edu.au 9925 9183

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

No specific pre-requisite and co-requisite.

Course Description

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


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

HLTHIR403C Work effectively with culturally diverse clients and co-workers

Element:

1. Reflect cultural awareness in work practice

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Demonstrate awareness of culture as a factor in all human behaviour by using 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:

4. 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

Element:

2. 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:

3. 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


Learning Outcomes


Work will be within a prescribed range of functions involving known routines and procedures with some accountability for the quality of outcomes
The workplace context may be:

  •  Specific community
  •  Community or regional service
  •  Department of a large institution or organisation
  • Specialised service or organisation

Application of this unit should be contextualised to reflect any requirements, issues and practices specific to each workplace.  On successful completion of this course, you will have developed and applied the skills and knowledge required to demonstrate your competency in the above elements.


 


Details of Learning Activities

This unit is part of Diploma of Education Support program. You will study this unit with several other units on the same day. Your program consists of face to face teaching, Directed Study and you are expected to participate in professional placement. It is highly recommended that students attend at least 85% of class time as crucial learning activities, assessment task preparation some assessment tasks are completed in class. You are not required to attend to complete Directed Study, however you are expected to complete all work given and will at times be required to show evidence that the work has been completed in this unit. Directed Study is a very important part of your program. An outline of your Directed Study will be given by your teacher and is published in the Weekly Program Delivery Plan.The student learning experience will be facilitated through participation in a range of activities: 

Group discussion 

Research assignments

Guest speakers

Oral and/or written questions on "What if?" scenarios

Realistic simulations and role play
Practical demonstrations and direct observation of actual work and simulated work practice
Oral Presentations
Individual and group projects - Completing the projects will include negotiated independent study time and practical work relevant to the unit of competency. 

Professional placement
 


Teaching Schedule

Program Dates: Monday 10th February – Friday 28th November 2014
Term Breaks: Monday 21st April – Sunday 27th April 2014; Monday 23rd June – Sunday 13th July; Monday 22nd September – Sunday 5th October.
Public holidays: Monday 10th March (Labour Day), Friday 18th April (Good Friday), Monday 9th June (Queen’s Birthday), Monday 3rd November (RMIT Holiday), Tuesday 4th November (Melbourne Cup Day)
 

This unit will be delivered weekly. The times will be outlined in the program delivery plans which are updated each week.
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. Should the teaching schedule change students will be advised via blackboard.
Library Orientation & an RMIT Online Systems Information Session will be scheduled during the first two weeks of your program. Information about student services, rights and responsibilities is contained in your student diary.
 

Semester 1

Week 1-4
Resources and assistance within and external to the organisation in relation to cultural diversity issues
Diversity - Own cultural conceptions and pre-conceptions and perspective of diverse cultures
Cultural diversity in Australian society (diversity in workplace)
Discussion, Q&A activities

Week 5-8
Cultural influences and changing cultural practices in Australia and its impact on diverse communities
The principles of equal employment opportunity, sex, race, disability, anti-discrimination and similar legislation and the implications for work and social practices

Discussion, Q&A activities,
Assignment/project1 – Research/Q&A

Week 9-12
Identifying and implementing culturally safe work practices
Applying culturally respectful practices in the workplace
Responding respectfully and sensitively to cultural beliefs and practices that may cause harm

Discussion, Q&A activities

Week 13-16
Impact of cultural practices and experiences on personal behaviour, interpersonal relationships, perception and social expectations of others
Unique way individuals may experience a culture and respond to past experiences

Discussion, Q&A activities
Week 17-18

Recognition that the word ’normal’ is a value-laden
Forming effective workplace relationships with co-workers and colleagues of diverse backgrounds and cultures
The role and use of language and cultural interpreters
Discussion, Q&A activities
Progress interview – Assignment 1, Evidence of practical experience promoting and responding to workplace diversity; e.g Observation/Demonstration, Third party

Semester 2
Week 1-4
Reflecting and reviewing experiences of working effectively with culturally diverse clients and co-workers
Discussion, Q&A activities

Week 5-8
Effective strategies to address and eliminate discrimination and bias in the workplace
Integrating principles of diversity in the workplace

Discussion, Q&A activities
Assignment/project 2 – Research/Scenarios

Week 9-12
Basic conflict resolution and negotiation skills

Discussion, Q&A activities
Week 13-16
Communication strategies
Cross cultural misunderstandings

Discussion, Q&A activities
Folio - Presentation of folio (oral and written)

Week 17-18
Safe work environment
Living in a multicultural society

Discussion, Q&A activities

Assessment interview – review folio of final assessments e.g :
Evidence Guide, Assignment/Project1 and 2, Evidence of practical experience promoting and responding to workplace diversity; e.g. Observation/Demonstration, Third party, Folio – Presentation (oral and written)


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

TEXTS AND EQUIPMENT

There are no set texts in this course. RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through handouts, our online systems and access to facilities and relevant software. You will also have access to the library resources. It is recommended that you bring:

• Display folder with plastic sleeves
• Highlighter pens
• Notebook or loose leaf paper
• Headphones (use your own or they can be purchased from the Brunswick Library very cheaply)
• USB (Memory stick)
 


Overview of Assessment

This comptency is part of an integrated program. You must demonstrate an understanding of all elements of the comptencies in order to be deemed competent. Assessment methods have been designed to measure achievement of each competency in a flexible manner over a range of assessment tasks. You may be assessed by:
• Direct observation of actual and simulated work practice
• Oral or written questioning
• Assignments and projects
• Presentation of a portfolio of evidence which may comprise documents, and/or photographs and/or video and audio files
• Review of products produced through work-based or course activities
• Third-party feedback from a work supervisor/employer
Feedback will be provided throughout the semester in class and/or online discussions, through individual and group feedback on practical exercises and by individual consultation.
If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or the Disability Liaison Unit if you would like to find out more.
An assessment charter (http://mams.rmit.edu.au/kh6a3ly2wi2h1.pdf) summarises your responsibilities as an RMIT student as well as those of your teachers.
An assessment policy summarises your responsibilities as an RMIT student as well as those of your teachers. Your courses assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies and procedures see http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/assessment


Assessment Tasks

Assessment methods have been designed to measure achievement of each competency in a flexible manner over a range of assessment tasks. You may be assessed by:
• Direct observation of actual and simulated work practice 

• Oral or written questioning 

• Assignments and projects 

• Presentation of a portfolio of evidence which may comprise of documents, and/or photographs and/or video and audio files 

• Review of work produced through work-based or course activities 

• Third-party feedback from a work supervisor/employer 

Feedback will be provided throughout the semester in class and/or online discussions, through individual and group feedback on practical exercises and by individual consultation.
Assessment tasks in this course are either formative or summative. Formative tasks provide the basis for ongoing feedback and can be considered essential building blocks for the more substantial summative assessment tasks. Summative assessment tasks in this unit are assessed using the following competency based results:
CC – Competency credit
CA – Competency achieved
NYC – Not Yet Competent
Please note:
Assessments tasks may include other Units of competency from the program.

All Assessment tasks should be submitted by the deadline. If an extension is required you must ask your teacher for one before the due date.
 


Assessment Matrix

The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant Unit of Competency.
These are available from the course contact person (stated above).
 

Course Overview: Access Course Overview