Course Title: Work effectively with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2013

Course Code: EMPL5967C

Course Title: Work effectively with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people

School: 360T Education

Campus: City Campus

Program: C4326 - Certificate IV in Education Support

Course Contact : Robyn Blaikie

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4838

Course Contact Email:robyn.blaikie@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Fiona Dean

fiona.dean@rmit.edu.au

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 describes the communication and work practice skills and knowledge required to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.  It deals specifically with cross-cultural awareness and issues involving working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, organisations and communities.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

HLTHIR404D Work effectively with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people

Element:

1. Reflect an awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and cultures in work practices

Performance Criteria:

1.1Acknowledge and respect the impact of events and issues in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander history during service delivery
1.2Demonstrate knowledge of and respect for the diversity of culture, skin and language groups, family structures, art and religion in Indigenous cultures as part of service delivery

Element:

2. Reflect an awareness of own and other cultural realities in work practices

Performance Criteria:

.1Identify the potential impact of cultural factors on service delivery to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients
2.2Address cultural realities in order to facilitate full participation in service delivery by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and/or co-workers
2.3Negotiate appropriate strategies to effectively accommodate cultural differences in the workplace
2.4Identify and utilise resources to facilitate effective service delivery in a cross cultural context
2.5Ensure work practices used in a cross cultural context are grounded in an awareness of one's own culture and the cultural realities of others

Element:

3. Communicate effectively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Performance Criteria:

3.1Identify communication issues and ensure they are addressed to develop and maintain effective relationships with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and/or co-workers
3.2Employ appropriate communication strategies to support a culturally safe environment for delivery of health services
3.3Identify ineffective and/or inappropriate communication strategies and remodel them to support delivery of health services
3.4Identify and utilise resources to facilitate effective communication within the workplace
3.5Engage the services of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander interpreters, health workers and colleagues as cultural brokers as required to meet duty of care

Element:

4. Reflect cultural safety in workplace and professional relationships

Performance Criteria:

4.1Ensure workplace and professional relationships are based on mutual respect, tolerance of diversity and a shared understanding of cultural safety
4.2Identify critical issues influencing workplace and professional relationships with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander co-workers and clients
4.3Identify and utilise effective strategies to develop and maintain effective relationships with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander co-workers and clients as appropriate
4.4Take responsibility for revisiting strategies to assist in the resolution of any difficulties, differences or misunderstandings that may occur

 

Element:

5. Work in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities

Performance Criteria:

5.1Develop and implement strategies to increase participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in health service delivery
5.2Ensure delivery of health care, services and programs reflect culturally safe and appropriate practice
5.3Ensure health care, services and programs encourage self-determination and community control to ensure improved health outcomes
5.4Identify and utilise resources to promote effective partnerships with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, organisations and communities
5.5Support the development of effective partnerships between staff, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their communities to facilitate accessibility, affordability, accountability, acceptability of appropriate healthcare and workplace services

 

Learning Outcomes


The course applies equally to those operating in health care policy or program planning, development and evaluation contexts or in direct service delivery contexts.  Application of this unit should be contextualised to reflect any requirements, issues and practices specific to each workplace and/or local community.  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

The student learning experience will be facilitated through participation in a range of activities:
Group discussion
Guest speakers
Oral and/or written questions on "What if?" scenarios
Individual and group projects - Completion of Projects will include negotiated independent study time and practical work relevant to the unit of competency.
Realistic simulations and role play
Practical demonstrations and direct observation of actual work and simulated work practice
Oral Presentation


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.

Week 1-4
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and history
Differences between cultures, particularly the cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and others
The importance of law and kinship
The impact of European settlement - Loss of land and culture

Discussion, Q&A activities, Evidence Guide

Week 5-8
Appreciation of cultural shock and its impact on health and well being
Basic understanding and awareness of the factors which contribute to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ill health and common diseases experienced by these groups of people

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

Week 9-12
Relevant legislation and policies, which may include: codes of practice, commonwealth, and/or territory/state legislation, community standards and regulations
Understanding of racism and discrimination, and laws pertaining to these issues
Knowledge of availability of interpreter resources

Discussion, Q&A activities/Oral presentation

Week 13-16
Understanding and awareness of the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures
Understanding and awareness of the social, political and economic issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Discussion, Q&A activities

Week 17-20

Understanding of own culture, western systems and structures and how this impacts on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures
Understanding of past and present power relations and its impact on the workplace and communities
Reflecting on experiences working effectively with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people
Discussion, Q&A activities/Oral presentation

Progress interview – Evidence guide, Assignment 1, Research/Oral presentation, Evidence of practical experience working effectively with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people; e.g Observation/Demonstration, Third party

Semester 2

Week 1-4

Anti-racism
Advocating for anti racism
Demonstrating respect for a person and their culture
Forming effective relationships with a person from another culture
Forming mutual mentoring arrangements with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people

Discussion, Q&A activities, Evidence Guide

Week 5-8

Forming mutual mentoring arrangements with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people
Developing and implementing strategies for sharing power and facilitating participation, self-determination and self-control by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities
Discussion, Q&A activities


Week 9-12

Identifying and implementing culturally safe work practices
Reflecting on self and make changes to work in a cross cultural context
Reflecting on actions and events to make and maintain cross cultural relationships
Communicating sensitively and respectfully in a cross cultural context
Discussion, Q&A activities
Assignment/project 2 – Research/Scenarios


Week 13-16
Reflect an awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and cultures in work practices
Reflect an awareness of own and other cultural realities in work practices
Using cultural safety approaches

Discussion, Q&A activities


Week 17-20
Communicate effectively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Reflect cultural safety in workplace and professional relationships
Work in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities

Discussion, Q&A activities, Oral presentation

Final interview – Review folio of final assessments e.g : Evidence Guide, Assignment/Project1 and 2, Evidence of working effectively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; e.g. Observation/Demonstration, Third party, Folio – Presentation (oral and/or written)


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources


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. Your assessments will include:
• Direct observation of actual and simulated work practice
• Oral or written questioning – Workbooks, discussion, oral presentations
• Assignments and projects – Cultural awareness project
• Presentation of a portfolio of evidence which may comprise documents, and/or photographs and/or video and audio files
• 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 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