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: C4326 - Certificate IV in 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
Soosan Kian soosan.kian@rmit.edu.au 9925 9183
Linda Finger linda.finger@rmit.edu.au 9925 9494
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 course 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 |
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 |
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 |
Element: |
4. Resolve cross-cultural misunderstandings |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1 Identify issues that may cause conflict |
Learning Outcomes
Learning outcomes for the unit are to develop the cultural awareness required for effective communication and cooperation with persons of diverse cultures. 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 Certificate IV in 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 20th June 2014
Term Breaks: Mon 21st April – Sunday 27th April 2014
Public holidays: Monday 10th March (Labour Day), Friday 18th April (Good Friday), Monday 9th June (Queen’s Birthday)
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.
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
Assignment/project1 – Research/Q&A
Week 5-8
Cultural influences and changing cultural practices in Australia and its impact on diverse communities; a dynamic social phenomenon
The principles of equal employment opportunity, sex, race, disability, anti-discrimination and similar legislation and the implications for work and social practices
Identifying and implementing culturally safe work practices
Applying culturally respectful practices in the workplace
Discussion, Q&A activities
Week 9-12
Responding respectfully and sensitively to cultural beliefs and practices that may cause harm
Impact of cultural practices and experiences on personal behaviour, interpersonal relationships, perception and social expectations of others
Integrating principles of diversity in the workplace
Effective strategies to address and eliminate discrimination and bias in the workplace
Recognition that the word ’normal’ is a value-laden
Discussion, Q&A activities
Assessment Task – Research/Q&A
Mid Semester Progress Interviews
Week 13-16
Forming effective workplace relationships with co-workers and colleagues of diverse backgrounds and cultures
The role and use of language and cultural interpreters
Effective strategies to address and eliminate discrimination and bias in the workplace
Unique way individuals may experience a culture and respond to past experiences
Discussion, Q&A activities
Assessment Task – Research/Q&A
Week 17-18
The role and use of language and cultural interpreters
Integrating principles of diversity in the workplace
Basic conflict resolution and negotiation skills
Reflecting and reviewing experiences of working effectively with culturally diverse clients and co-workers
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
You must demonstrate an understanding of all elements of the competencies 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
• Work-based 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.
Your courses assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies and procedures which are described and referenced in a single document: http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=ln1kd66y87rc
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:
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