The unit applies equally to those operating in health care policy or program planning, development and evaluation contexts or in direct service delivery contexts

Application of this unit should be contextualised to reflect any requirements, issues and practices specific to each workplace and/or local community

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

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

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

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

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

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

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

This includes knowledge of:

An understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and history, the impact of European settlement, loss of land and culture, the importance of law and kinship

Appreciation of cultural shock and its impact on health and well being

Basic understanding and awareness of the differences between cultures, particularly the cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and others

Factors which contribute to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ill health and common diseases experienced by these groups of people

Knowledge of availability of interpreter resources

Relevant legislation and policies, which may include:

codes of practice

commonwealth, and/or territory/state legislation

community standards and regulations

organisation's policies and practices

Understanding and awareness of the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures

Understanding and awareness of the social, political and economic issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

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

Understanding of racism and discrimination, and laws pertaining to these issues

Essential skills:

It is critical that the candidate demonstrate the ability 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

This includes the ability to:

Advocate for anti racism

Demonstrate respect for a person and their culture

Form effective relationships with a person from another culture

Form mutual mentoring arrangements with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people

Participate in developing and implementing strategies for sharing power and facilitating participation, self-determination and self-control by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities

Participate in identifying and implementing culturally safe work practices

Reflect on actions and events to make and maintain cross cultural relationships

Reflect on self and make changes to work in a cross cultural context

Sensitively and respectfully communicate in a cross cultural context

Use cultural safety approaches

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 for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate this competency unit:

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

This unit may be assessed both on and off job

In order to work with local Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities, workers must demonstrate an understanding of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander culture and history, the local community and other communities

Assessment of this unit is recommended to involve a person who is Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander or who has worked closely with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people and communities

Assessment should be conducted on more than one occasion to cover a variety of circumstances to establish consistency

Holistic assessment of this competency unit is encouraged, to ensure application of these skills in conjunction with specific work functions in the health industry but the unit may be delivered and assessed independently

Access and equity considerations:

All workers in the health industry should be aware of access and equity 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 health issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, workers should be aware of cultural, historical and current issues impacting on health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

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

Products that are required as evidence include:

Documentation on the development and implementation of strategies employed to address issues identified in relation to:

cultural differences

workplace communication

workplace and professional relationships

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation, self-determination, and community control in relation to health care policies, programs and/or service delivery

Processes that are required as evidence include:

How opportunities were provided for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation in the planning, delivery and evaluation of health care policies, programs or services

Why particular communication strategies and/or work practices were chosen or modified

How resources were identified and utilised to:

facilitate service delivery in a cross cultural context

facilitate effective communication within the workplace

promote effective partnerships

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 differences may include:

Interpersonal approach

Thinking/learning styles

Expectations

Responsibilities

Priority setting

Experience and working styles

Gender and kinship differences

Strategies to accommodate cultural differences in the workplace may include:

Workplace induction program

General guidelines and standards for approaching specific tasks and issues

Develop understanding of own culture and history

Develop awareness of key aspects and impacts of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander culture and history on current health issues

Understanding similarities to identify common ground of cultural groups in the workplace

Contextualising given workplace

Code of practice at all levels of the organisation

Resources to facilitate effective service delivery in a cross cultural context may include:

People identified with appropriate cultural knowledge

Workplace design to accommodate cultural needs

Workplace policy

Reference groups

Events and issues in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander history may include but are not limited to:

Pre- and post-colonisation history

Legislation

Stolen generations

Deaths in custody

Health

Land Rights

Maralinga

Mabo

Religion

Communication strategies to ensure safe service deliver may include:

Common workplace strategies:

identify the barriers to effective cross cultural communication and the causes of ineffective cross cultural communication

visual/iconic strategies - diagrams, tables, graphs, pictures

flow charts, video images

use of computer technology and other media

Strategies for individuals:

gestures and non-verbal techniques

display of positive regard and respect

non-judgemental approaches

on going personal/interpersonal skill development

forming partnerships with all cultural groups to achieve particular work goals

monitoring and reflecting on own actions to ensure cultural values are not imposed on others

Resources to facilitate effective communication may include:

Resources to support visual and iconic strategies

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health workers, liaison officers and other colleagues

Interpreters may be:

Registered

Other multilingual people not related to the person

Strategies for developing effective relationships may include:

Negotiation of roles and responsibilities in the workplace

Development, monitoring and review of culturally safe work practices

Identification of and consultation with key contact people such as Aboriginal liaison officers

Display empathy appropriately

Be flexible

Develop the capacity to take turns - stand back wait for your turn

Strategies to resolve difficulties may include:

Negotiation of culturally appropriate guidelines

Identification of appropriate mediators

Negotiating a workplace code of practice

Strategies to increase participation in health service delivery may include:

Consultation with community representatives

Community participation in decision making processes at all levels

Culturally appropriate practices may include:

Strategies for providing a service for women's and men's health issues

Allowances made for cultural obligations

Resources to promote effective partnerships may include:

Formation of appropriate reference groups

Policy/guidelines - memorandum of understanding

Two way flow of information and resources

Work practices may include but are not limited to the following functions or be in the following settings:

Hospital or other facility/services admission, entry and discharge processes

Referral protocols

Reception and enquiry services

Diagnostic services

Inpatient services

Non-inpatient and community services

Screening services

Health promotion

Public health

Non-government or agency

Urban, rural and remote community settings

Factors contributing to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's ill health include:

History of European/Aboriginal contact

Loss of culture, land, identity and Indigenous law

Loss of family links

Geographical remoteness

Lack of relevant and culturally appropriate education

Lack of meaningful employment or occupation

Lack of relevant health knowledge

Food and nutrition

Smoking

Alcohol and substance abuse

Mental stress

Poor maternal health

Feelings of isolation and vulnerability and being culturally unsafe

Violence

Environmental health factors (housing, sewerage, water supply, hygiene)

Late presentation, diagnosis and treatment

Culturally appropriate work practices may recognise:

Food customs

Kin relationships

Lifestyle preferences

Gender

Language preferences

This unit contains Employability Skills