The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.

Critical aspects of assessment:

The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills

This unit is most appropriately assessed in the workplace or in a simulated workplace setting under the normal range of workplace conditions

Assessment must demonstrate consistency of application of skills and knowledge described in this unit of competency

Access and equity considerations:

All workers in community services should be aware of access, equity and human rights issues in relation to their own area of work

All workers should develop their ability to work in a culturally diverse environment

In recognition of particular issues facing Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities, workers should be aware of cultural, historical and current issues impacting on Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people

Assessors and trainers must take into account relevant access and equity issues, in particular relating to factors impacting on Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities

Context of and specific resources for assessment:

This unit can be assessed independently, however holistic assessment practice with other community services units of competency is encouraged

Resources required for assessment include access to relevant workplace or simulated realistic workplace setting where assessment may take place

Method of assessment:

Assessment may include observation, questioning and evidence gathered from a workplace environment

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level required for this unit.

Essential knowledge:

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively do the task outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the identified work role

These include knowledge of:

Relevant Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander programs and services, including:

those relevant to service area

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community perceptions of major issues affecting them and underlying causes

perceptions of non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people relating to major Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander issues and underlying causes

key health and social statistics (national, state and/or local) for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people compared to those of non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander population (such as expectation of life at birth, infant mortality rate, alcohol and other drug (AOD) statistics, housing ratio rates and rate and severity of unintentional injuries)

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander history, including:

history, social structures, cultural beliefs and values of traditional and contemporary Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia

effects of colonisation as experienced by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people

historical dilemmas faced by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people (acknowledge or deny Aboriginality)

impacts of government policies and legislation and their impact on Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities, families and individuals

Social, cultural and environmental determinants and strategies to address Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health status, including:

traditional Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural practices and lifestyle and their impact on Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health

importance of land, tradition and cultural practice to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health

impact of socioeconomic factors on health and welfare

social and political factors that perpetuate disadvantage

importance of personal achievement, education and supportive family/social networks

strategies Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander families may employ to maintain strong culture and supportive social networks and maximise educational, employment and social opportunities for their children

impact of environmental factors on health

injury prevention and safety promotion

Barriers to improving well being and health status

continued ...

Essential knowledge (contd):

Lifestyle and behavioural determinants of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander welfare and strategies to address them, including:

known behaviours that pose a significant risk to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander lifestyle practices

education and promotion of healthy lifestyle practices

principles of well being applied to work and study practices

Relevant aspects of the community services and health care system, including:

access to benefits

Essential skills:

It is critical that the candidate demonstrate the ability to:

Work consistently in a culturally safe manner with and on behalf of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients in line with identified community needs and workplace requirements

Work with an understanding of the impact of historical, social, political, spiritual and environmental factors on the health and well being of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people

Take into account social, political and environmental factors that influence the health and well being of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients

In addition, the candidate must be able to effectively do the task outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the identified work role

These include the ability to:

Make appropriate referrals, providing accurate and relevant details to clients and referral agencies

Reflect on and improve own level and application of skills and knowledge to achieve desirable outcomes and maintain own capabilities

Determine potential relational issues and conflicts between work role and community role

Apply language, literacy and numeracy competence appropriate to the work role and the relevant Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community

The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.

Cultural respect

This unit of competency supports the recognition, protection and continued advancement of the inherent rights, cultures and traditions of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples

It recognises that the improvement of the health and well being status of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people must include attention to physical, spiritual, cultural, emotional and social well being, community capacity, self-determination and governance

Its application must be culturally sensitive and supportive of traditional healing and health, knowledge and practices

The history of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people includes:

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander customs and lifestyle before European colonisation

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander experience of colonisation and invasion

Post-colonial legacy of social and economic disadvantage

Survival and maintenance of culture, kinship and connection with the land

Evolution and scope of the role of the Aboriginal health worker up to the contemporary context

Community control refers to:

Community participation and control in decision-making is essential to all aspects of community services work, and the role of the community services worker is to support the community and/or key decision-makers in this process

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community control is:

the guiding principle and model for the delivery of services to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people

a sector of the Australian community services industry with its own history

a practice which underpins Aboriginal community strengthening and survival

a statement of self-determination

Agencies and associated community services may include:

Community controlled health services

Women's/men's centres

Government health services

Welfare agencies

Emergency services

Police

Education and training organisations

Non-government and private enterprise

Community Government Councils

Elected community organisations

Homeland/outstation service providers

Churches

Cultural safety refers to:

Maintaining the traditional and contemporary protection of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities':

intellectual property

human rights

resources

ownership of materials

Community and self-protection of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander workers

Cultural factors that may produce stress include:

Community and/or own expectations that may involve, for example:

extended work hours

functions outside health work role

unrealistic accountability/responsibility for resolving community problems

community and family pressures

conflict between work role and community and family responsibilities

Multiple accountabilities to employer, family, personal and community

Conflict between community and family responsibilities and obligations and work role

Organisation policies and regulatory requirements may include:

Privacy and confidentiality guidelines

Treatment manuals

Work health and safety (WHS) guidelines

Infection control guidelines

Barriers to access and equity in relation to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander services may include:

Racism, including community and institutionalised racism

Discrimination

Socioeconomic status

Access to essential services and infrastructure

Lack of coordination of government at all levels

Inadequate resources/funding

Lack of community control and ownership

Lack of political leverage

Language barriers

Disease focus of mainstream health care delivery

Differences in concept of ill health

Geographic access to Primary Health Care and specialist health services

Cultural barriers, such as family and kinship barriers

Language/literacy

Social, political, economic and environmental factors that impact on Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health include:

Health outcomes

Stolen generations

Colonisation and invasion

Land rights and native title

Dispossession

Acts of government including assimilation policies

Racism and discrimination

Media

Employment

Poverty

Mortality/morbidity

Police-community relations

Housing

Education

Substance misuse

Acculturation

Political leverage

Levels of unintentional injury

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community service, strategies, policies and resources may include:

National, state/territory and regional Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander strategies, policies, joint planning bodies relevant to a range of community services

National Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peak Organisation and their state/territory affiliates

Resources available nationally, locally and at the state/territory level