Hi, I'm struggling a bit on this topic, I have actually skipped over it and gone onto other subjects as I'm finding it so difficult to answer questions. Any feedback I would be grateful. Provide an example of how your awareness of your own (or another) culture could have a negative impact on the development of an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander child in your care. (100-150 words)
My Answer:The specific cultural identity of Indigenous and Torres Strait children needs to be acknowledges and their heritage supported. The diversity of cultures should be recognized and incorporated into the childcares program. If the child care successfully treats families with respect and do not make stereotypical assumptions, families will be happy to acknowledge their identity and share important information about their child and their culture with the educators and other families.
Aboriginal children are given greater personal freedom from an early age, such as deciding when to eat, sleep and wash as a means of ensuring the child’s survival if separated from the family group. This may form as issue for an educator who is unaware of this and may find the child to be undisciplined. After not sleeping or eating when told, but at their own accord.
You have been asked to help develop ideas for creating effective partnerships with the local Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community where Gurung is located.Provide an example of (a) one potentially useful communication technique and (b) one potentially useful work practice both of which show respect for cultural differences. (50-100 words each)
(a) A potentially useful communication technique:
My answer:
Think about the language used when communicating with Aboriginal people. Respect the use of silence and don’t mistake it for misunderstanding a topic. Always consult with Aboriginal people if unsure what is being said. It is important to build relationships within the local community and learn suitable and generally accepted words. The local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff may be able to assist with cultural knowledge and interpretation information.
) A potentially useful work practice:
Develop useful regional initiatives and resources to educate staff. ( In 2006-07 a bookmark was made which highlighted all of the Aboriginal language groups in the are and information regarding organizing a welcome to country and the words to use. In Aboriginal culture certain customs and practices are performed by men and women separately, often referred to as Men’s and Women’s Business. Aboriginal communities that continue to practice their traditional customs will also continue these segregated practices and it is important that this is understood by all staff working with Aboriginal people
List 2 situations where you would need to engage a cultural broker (for eg. Interpreters or well-informed colleagues) to support children and families from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander culture.
A cultural broker encourages the family to work with the case manager and provides support to the family.
-They assist with team meetings and provide information about the family.
- They help link the family with supportive resources
-The attend court with the family and provide helpful written reports to the case manager which can provide needed documentation for court purposes.
Cultural brokers ‘stand in the gap’
Cultural brokers provide a variety of support services for families involved with the child welfare system, or at risk of becoming involved and can be referred to a family at any point in the system, and can be of most assistance to a family/DCFS during key decision points.
Case Study – C
You did such a great job of locating a ‘cultural broker’ to help Gurung become a ‘best practice model of cultural safety in the ECEC sector’ that the centre’s Manager has asked you to do some more work on this important project. She wants you to help develop a strategy that will improve cultural safety at Gurung for everyone - all children in your care, their family’s and the local Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community.
To help you, we have broken the ‘big goal’ of ‘best practice in cultural safety’ into the following four outcomes or ‘mini goals’:
1. To build effective partnerships between Gurung’s staff and all Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples including an understanding of how trauma can impact decision making, communicating, understanding and retaining information among Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people
2. To identify and utilise resources to promote partnerships with the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander local community
3. To devise and document ways to support the delivery of services and programs that are ‘culturally safe’ and encourage increased participation in them
4. To integrate strategies that encourage self-determination and community control at Gurung by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples
1. Build effective partnerships between Gurung’s staff and all Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.
It may be required that someone is present as a representative of the original custodians, ask fellow Aboriginal staff, they may be able to deliver the welcome or recommended someone else. You can organize this through your local Aboriginal land council.
2. Identify and utilize resources to promote partnerships with the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander local community.
There are a range of resources that might be used to promote and support effective partnerships with Indigenous people and facilitate accessibility, affordability, accountability, acceptability of appropriate health care and workplace services.
The use of suitable protocols is required when dealing with individuals and communities to promote and support effective partnerships.
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