Assessment item 1: Short Question and Answers

This assessment includes all elements below:

1. (a) Self-Reflection: Self reflection is like looking into a mirror and describing what you
see. It is a way of assessing yourself, your ways of working and how you study. To put it
simply 'reflection' means to think about something.
What is your current understand of Aboriginal/ Torres Starit islander cultures in Australia? (this
is a personal view, not based on research)
Australia's Indigenous peoples are two distinct cultural groups made up of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander peoples. But there is great diversity within these two broadly described groups
exemplified by the over 250 different language groups spread across the nation.
(b) If you had the opportunity to ask an indigenous elder some question about their culture, what
would they be?
 Asking to them about their families, where they are from?

 Asking them about their culture and traditions?

 What do they say to their older family members?

 How they celebrate festivals and what are there common festivals?

 What are their marriage traditions and their culture related to marriage and birth?

2. How will you ensure that your own cultural perceptions do not affect your work role?
 reflecting on one's own culture, attitudes and beliefs about 'others'
 clear, value free, open and respectful communication.
 developing trust.
 recognising and avoiding stereotypical barriers.
 being prepared to engage with others in a two-way dialogue where knowledge is shared.
 understanding the influence of culture shock.
 3. What are the potential impacts on Aboriginal/Torres starit islander co-workers, if we
don’t change our cultural perceptions?

 The emotional impact on Aboriginal people of their experiences and their families
experiences
 The barriers to gaining living skills (for example being separated from their family)
 The lack of trust of institutions

4. What are some communication strategies we can use, to encourage relationships with
Aboriginal/Torres Strait islander co-workers?
 Be trustworthy. You know what they say about trust: it takes years to build, seconds to
break, and forever to repair.
 Be transparent.
 Be respectful.
 Be invested.
 Be involved.
 Be patient.
 Choose your team carefully.

5. What is cultural competence? Provide an example

Cultural competence is the ability to understand, communicate with and effectively interact with
people across cultures. Cultural competence encompasses:

 being aware of one’s own world view

 developing positive attitudes towards cultural differences
 gaining knowledge of different cultural practices and world views
 developing skills for communication and interaction across cultures

For example, educators who respect diversity and are culturally competent:

 have an understanding of, and honour, the histories, cultures, languages, traditions, child
rearing practices
 value children’s different capacities and abilities
 respect differences in families’ home lives

6. What is cultural safety? Provide an example

 This is defined as the way in which respect for culture is established within an organization,
such as your health service. It is about overcoming the cultural power imbalances of places,
people and policies to contribute to improvements in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
health. The goal of cultural safety is for all people to feel respected and safe when they
interact with the health care system. For example: For example, team training,
interdisciplinary rounding or executive walk rounds, and unit-based strategies that include a
series of interventions have all been labeled as interventions to promote a culture of safety.

7. (a) Who can you contact, when you require accurate information regarding Aboriginal/
Torres Strait islander people?
Specific programs or services in your region, contact our regional office nearest you - NIAA
Regional Network. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture or
proof of Aboriginality, contact the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Studies.

(b) What is an organisations duty of care in relation to providing interpreters to

indigenous people?
The Aboriginal Interpreter Service (AIS) help with language barriers faced by Indigenous people
in the Northern Territory.
Interpreters are trained to work in a wide range of settings and environments including:

 health care
 education
 social services
 legal and court systems
 conferences
 community engagement
 training programs
 Indigenous media.

(c) How can interpreters help communicate key messages to Indigenous people?
An interpreter can help you communicate with families who speak little or no English to gather
information about:
• The family’s child rearing practices
• The child’s likes or dislikes
• Cultural and religious customs and traditions
• Eating and sleeping practices
• Dietary and medical requirements

8. List 5 resources we could incorporate in the workplace to improve cultural safety?

Following are the 5 resources we could incorporate in the workplace to improve the cultural
safety:

 reflecting on one’s own culture, attitudes and beliefs about ‘others’

 clear, value free, open and respectful communication
 developing trust
 recognising and avoiding stereotypical barriers
 being prepared to engage with others in a two-way dialogue where knowledge is shared
 understanding the influence of culture shock

9. What are inclusive strategies?

Inclusive teaching strategies refer to any number of teaching approaches that address the needs
of students with a variety of backgrounds, learning modalities, and abilities. These strategies
contribute to an overall inclusive learning environment in which students feel equally valued.

10. As an educator, how would you begin to create a non- judgmental environment for
different cultures?

List below some strategies you think would be appropriate.

 encourage students to talk about differences without making judgments

 teach how to maintain positive interaction among people of different racial and cultural
backgrounds
 establish school policies that reflect a value for differences among people and establish
school board policies that are racially sensitive
 Hold educators accountable for demonstrating high expectations for students of color
 Establish a staff that is reflective of the student population.

11. How will an organization know if the strategies in place are effective?
To measure the effectiveness and efficiency in an organization strategy, organization have to
examine how it links organizations objectives to the way organization plan to achieve them and
the means organization plan to use. A strategy is effective if it uses the resources you allocate
according to organization plan and delivers the expected results.
12. When is it appropriate to revise/change the strategies?
The full strategic planning process should be conducted at least once every three years. As noted
above, these activities should be conducted every year if the organization is experiencing
tremendous change. Each year, action plans should be updated.

13. List some examples of how you would use service strategies to turn bias and
discriminatory comments into a learning experience?
Following are some of the examples that how you would use services strategies to turn bias
and discriminatory comments into a learning experiences.

1. Self-Exploration: Examine personal cultural biases and assumptions. Explore

personal perceptions and understanding of situations by developing an awareness
of personal cultural "filters."

2. Comprehensive Integration: Integrate culturally diverse information/perspectives

into all aspects of teaching. Consider moving beyond the constraints of a cultural
history month by incorporating multiple perspectives into all aspects of the
curriculum.

3. Accepting Environment: Establish an environment that allows for mistakes. Since

most people have been unconsciously acculturated into prejudicial and
stereotypical thinking, individuals may not be aware that certain attitudes are
hurtful to others. Acknowledge that intolerant thinking will surface from time to
time in others and ourselves. Educators should model non-defensive responses
when told that something they said or did was offensive to someone. Assume
good will and make that assumption a common practice in the classroom.

14. How could you promote partnership with other organisations to increase employment
opportunities for Aboriginal and/ or Torres Strait islander people?
 Following are the ways in which we can promote partnership with other organizations to
increase the employement opportunity for Aboriginal and/ or Torres Strait islander people.
 Increasing the skill levels of Indigenous Australians via formal education and training
 Pre-employment assessment and customised training in order to get Indigenous job
seekers employment-ready
 Recruitment and workplace policies that facilitate an Indigenous-friendly working
environment that ensure Indigenous people have an equal opportunity to win jobs (for
example, providing cultural leave)
 Cross-cultural training for employers

15. Why is it important to involve Aboriginal and/ or Torres Strait islander people in
organizational strategies, changes and decision making?
To encourage ongoing participation and involvement, don’t present ideas driven by process and
rules that do not match the decision-making and communication styles of the group you are
interacting with. Make involvement meaningful and try to encourage trust and credibility, and
allow time for the decision-making process. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people
generally want to recognise their community obligations and kinship relationships which may
mean decision making is slowed.

16. How old is the Aboriginal/ Torres Strait Island culture?

Around 65,000 years old is the Aboriginal/Torres Strait island culture.

17. (a) What is welcome to country?

A Welcome to Country is a ceremony performed by Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Elders,
or Traditional Owners who have been given permission, to welcome visitors onto their
traditional land.

(b) Who delivers “welcome to country”?

A Welcome to Country is delivered by Traditional Owners, or Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander people who have been given permission from Traditional Owners, to welcome visitors
to their Country.

18. What is Kinship?

Kinship has several importance in a social structure. Kinship decides who can marry with whom
and where marital relationships are taboo. It determines the rights and obligations of the
members in all the sacraments and religious practices from birth to death in family life.

19. (a) What is ‘Dream Time’?

The Dreamtime is the period in which life was created according to Aboriginal culture.
Dreaming is the word used to explain how life came to be; it is the stories and beliefs behind
creation.

(b) “Umbarra”
Umbarra, or King Merriman (died 1904) was an Aboriginal elder of the Djirringanj/Yuin people
of the Bermagui area on the South Coast of New South Wales.
Although Aboriginal people traditionally did not have kings or chiefs, only elders, the
white colonial powers used to often grant king plates to certain elders, hence the moniker King.

That’s why we’re still here today, because Umbarra the Black Duck saved us.

When they came and tried to go to the island where all the people were, all the warriors on there
kept them off from invading that land and taking the women. That's why we're still here
today, because Umbarra the Black Duck saved us.

20. Name 5 significant Aboriginal/ Torres Strait islander cultural events and their purpose

1. Survival Day: January 26

Purpose- January 26 is a significant date for all Australians but for varying reasons - it is
Australia Day, Survival Day and also sometimes referred to as Invasion Day. Some see it as a
celebration, but for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people it is a day of mourning.
More information on the meaning of January 26 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
visit Creative Spirits.
 2. Apology Day: February 13

Purpose- On 13 February 2008 Prime Minister Kevin Rudd moved a Motion of Apology to
Australia’s Indigenous Peoples in the House of Representatives apologising for past laws,
policies and practices that devastated Australia’s First Nations Peoples – in particular members
of the Stolen Generations.

3. National Close the Gap Day: around 2 April

Purpose- National Close the Gap Day commemorates the launch of the campaign on 2 April
2007, and is held each year around that time. The day gives people the opportunity to show their
support for closing the 17-year life expectancy gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islanders and other Australians. More information can be accessed at Oxfam Close the Gap.

4. National Sorry Day: May 26

Purpose- National Sorry Day is an annual day of commemoration and remembrance of all those
who have been impacted by the government policies of forcible removal that have resulted in the
Stolen Generations. For more information visit the Bringing Them Home
WA and [Link].

5. 1967 Referndum: May 27

Purpose- The 1967 referendum made history: Australians voted overwhelmingly to amend the
constitution to include Aboriginal people in the census and allow the Commonwealth to create
laws for Aboriginal people. As a result of the political climate, this referendum saw the highest
YES vote ever recorded in a Federal referendum, with 90.77 per cent voting for change. For
more information visit Creative Spirits and the National Archives of Australia.
Assessment item2- Research

You are required to research culture and history, the impact of European settlement, loss of land
culture and the importance of law and kinship in Australia (500 words)
Changes in policy, even when addressed to problems created by the past, do not erase the past.
The history of forced resettlement on reserves, the placing of many thousands of children in
institutions, and the loss of land and culture are evident in the disadvantages still experienced
by many Aboriginal people today. Even without forcible removal, Aborigines often had little
choice but to ‘come in’ to the cities, rural centres or pastoral stations. The coming together in
settlements and missions of many different groups with different languages and customs
created new tensions. The availability of Western medical skills, education and technology
increased the degree of contact with the outside world and Anglo-Australian ways. The
increasing availability of television in rural areas and the advent of satellite communications
have added further pressures. Alcohol continues to have a devastating effect. Payments of
social service benefits cut across traditional kinship rules. Aborigines seeking education for
their children may find that Western education tends to undermine traditional lifestyles and
social structures.
Traditional authority and Aboriginal customary laws have been markedly affected by the
processes of settlement and dispossession.
The reasons for the undermining of traditional authority go much deeper than references to
alcohol, to material goods or to the influence of the mass media would suggest. The general
non-recognition of Aboriginal customary laws was another factor. While the outstation
movement and the granting of land rights are aspects of what has been seen as a ‘revival’ of
Aboriginal traditionality and culture, it remains true that from the earliest days, European
contact tended to undermine Aboriginal laws, society, culture and religion — a process which
is a continuing one. Aboriginal people continue to face difficult choices about their lives and
their place in their own communities. An example is the encouragement now given to the
establishment of Aboriginal organisations. Aborigines elected to hold office in community
councils are often younger, school-educated Aborigines who are more skilled in the ways and
concepts of the wider Australian society than the elders. This can produce tensions or divisions
within a community, cutting across and undermining traditional lines of authority.
European settlement impact on the loss of land and culture for Aboriginal

The colonisation of Australia had a devastating impact on the Indigenous people who had
lived on this land for over 60,000 years. Prior to British settlement, more than 500 Indigenous
nations inhabited the Australian continent, approximately 750,000 people in total. Their cultures
had developed over 60,000 years, making Indigenous Australians the custodians of the world’s
most ancient living culture. Each group lived in close relationship with the land and had custody
over their own traditional country.

The importance of law and kinship in Australia

Each clan group has a role in protecting and maintaining the spirituality of their 'country' and its
physical features. Much of Aboriginal law is intertwined with this relationship with the land and
the sea. The importance of sacred sites and their protection is an integral part of Aboriginal
culture.