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

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2016

Course Code: EMPL5846C

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

School: 360T Education

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5290 - Diploma of 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. 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:	HLTHIR404B 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:	1.1 Acknowledge and respect the impact of events and issues in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander historyduring service delivery 1.2 Demonstrate 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:	2.1 Identify the potential impact of cultural factors on service delivery to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients 2.2 Address cultural realities in order to facilitate full participation in service delivery by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and/or co-workers 2.3 Negotiate appropriate strategies to effectively accommodate cultural differences in the workplace 2.4 Identify and utilise resources to facilitate effective service delivery in a cross cultural context 2.5 Ensure 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:	3.1 Identify 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 3.2 Employ appropriate communication strategies to support a culturally safe environment for delivery of health services 3.3 Identify ineffective and/or inappropriate communication strategies and remodel them to support delivery of health services 3.4 Identify and utilise resources to facilitate effective communicationwithin the workplace 3.5 Engage 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:	4.1 Ensure workplace and professional relationships are based on mutual respect, tolerance of diversity and a shared understanding of cultural safety 4.2 Identify critical issues influencing workplace and professional relationships with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander co-workers and clients 4.3 Identify and utilise effective strategies to develop and maintain effective relationships with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander co-workers and clients as appropriate 4.4 Take 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:	5.1 Develop and implement strategies to increase participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in health service delivery 5.2 Ensure delivery of health care, services and programs reflect culturally safe and appropriate practice 5.3 Ensure health care, services and programs encourage self-determination and community control to ensure improved health outcomes 5.4 Identify and utilise resources to promote effective partnerships with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, organisations and communities 5.5 Support 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

Develop 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.

Details of Learning Activities

The student learning experience will be facilitated through participation in a range of activities:
Work placement
Group discussion
Research assignments
Guest speakers
Oral and/or written questions on "What if?" scenarios
Action learning projects in work placement
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, unsupervised directed study time and practical work relevant to the unit of competency
Workplacement
Your program consists of a combination of learning activities through a range of delivery methods including: face to face teaching, online activities and independent Directed Study and you are expected to participate in workplacement.
Your experiences through relevant work and work placement during the program are a very important part of your learning and assessment. Your RMIT teacher will organise Professional conversations with you during the program where you have the opportunity to expand on your workplacement experiences as part of evidence for relevant assessment. You will also receive feedback from your mentor/supervisor and third party evidence. You are expected to attend workplacement regularly and the attendance schedule can be negotiated between you, your RMIT teacher and workplacement supervisor/mentor.

Teaching Schedule

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
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and history
The impact of European settlement - Loss of land and culture
E1 E2

Week 2
Cultural protocols - The importance of lore and kinship
Cultural diversity
E1 E2

Week 3
Understanding and awareness of the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures
E1 E2

Week 4
Understanding and awareness of the social, political and economic issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
E1 E2 E3

Week 5
Appreciation of cultural shock and its impact on health and well being
Basic understanding and awareness of the factors which contribute to 
health and wellbeing
E1 E2 E3

Week 6
Impacts on health and well being
Relevant legislation and policies: codes of practice and organisation’s policies and practices
E1 E2 E3

Week 7
Understanding of racism and discrimination, and laws pertaining to these issues
Knowledge of availability of interpreter resources
E2 E3 E4

Week 8
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
E1 E2 E3 E4

Week 9
Anti-racism and Advocating for anti racism
Forming effective relationships with a person from another culture
E2 E3 E4 E5

Week 10
Forming mutual mentoring arrangements with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people
Demonstrating respect for a person and their culture
E2 E3 E4 E5

Week 11
Developing and implementing strategies for sharing power and facilitating participation, self-determination and self-control by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities
E3 E4 E5

Week 12
Reflecting on self and making changes to work in a cross cultural context
Reflecting on actions and events to make and maintain cross cultural relationships
E2 E3 E4 E5

Week 13
Communicating sensitively and respectfully in a cross cultural context
Communicating effectively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
E2 E3 E4 E5

Week 14
Using cultural safety approaches
E2 E3 E4 E5

 

Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

References

Other Resources

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 to be used with ipads etc
• 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
• 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.
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 1: Cultural awareness assignment (Week 5)

Assessment 2: Oral presentation - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture (Week 10)

Assessment 3 : Observation/Demonstration in workplacement (Week 1-14)

Assessment tasks in this unit are assessed using the following competency based results:
CA - Competency achieved
NYC - Not Yet Competent
All Assessment tasks should be submitted by the due date. If an extension is required please contact your teacher and/or Coordinator before the due date. 
You must complete a submission cover sheet for every piece of submitted work.
All assessment tasks including electronically recorded student work will be kept by the University for student feedback and to meet government requirements.
Resubmissions:
If you are found to be Not Yet Competent in a Course Assessment Task you may be allowed one resubmission only. Your teacher will provide feedback regarding what you need to do to improve and will set a new deadline for the resubmission. 

Assessment Matrix

The assessment mapping demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant Unit of Competency and with the critical aspects of assessment for each unit.

Other Information

You must complete a submission cover sheet for every piece of submitted work, including online submissions. This signed sheet acknowledges that you are aware of the plagiarism implications.
Attendance - The major learning experience involves participating in face to face classes. It is strongly advised that you attend all sessions in order to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring the maximum opportunity to gain the competency.www.rmit.edu.au/policies/academicprogress
Feedback - Monitoring academic progress is an important enabling and proactive strategy to assist you to achieve your learning potential. Students will be asked to attend mid semester interviews with relevant teachers and Program Coordinator.
Special Consideration - All assessment tasks are required to be completed to a satisfactory level. If you are unable to complete any piece of assessment by the due date, you will need to apply for an extension. Please see the RMIT website for further information..rmit.edu.au/students/assessment/extension
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism - RMIT University has a strict policy on plagarism and and academic integrity. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy.www.rmit.edu.au/students/academic-integrity

Course Overview: Access Course Overview