Pre-requisites

None.

Co-requisites

None.

Competencies covered

Competency: 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	1.1 Acknowledge and respect the impact of events and issues in Aboriginal and /or Torres Strait Islander history during 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	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	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 communication within 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	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	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

Unit Description

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

The unit begins by presenting an overview of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture. The issues and suggested strategies of working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander colleagues are then considered. This discussion is then extended to the issues and suggested strategies of working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. Parallels are also drawn with the previous unit of competency on cultural diversity.

Racial discrimination is then raised with emphasis placed upon how particular language, attitudes and actions are discriminatory. This leads to an exploration of how best to communicate with Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders. The unit then concludes with practical examples of working with Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders and their respective communities.

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Unit offerings

Face to face: (Demand based)

Please note

The Unit Offerings listed above are a guide only and the timetable for any year is the final authority. The College may vary offerings based on demand, regulatory requirements, continual improvement processes or other conditions.

This unit may be available in different modes of delivery i.e. online and face-to-face as listed above. The unit content will not differ between these modes of delivery. There will possibly be a difference in the schedule and/or the prescribed assessment tasks, however both will cover and assess the same content.