Aboriginal Cultural Awareness has been the primary method for staff to gain knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal people’s history, diversity, and cultures.  Although the importance of Cultural Awareness training can’t be undervalued, it has been viewed that the capacity of this training does not go far enough to adequately measure the learning for staff in relation to their level of cultural competence in relation to Aboriginal people and communities.

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Aboriginal Cultural Competency is a valuable skill set for staff both professionally and personally supporting, working and engaging with Aboriginal clients and communities. Aboriginal Cultural competencies, skills and knowledge are necessary for the establishment of positive, effective relationships with Aboriginal people and communities.  For Aboriginal Cultural competence to succeed it will require individuals to reflect on their own personal and organisational values.

Workshop Objectives:

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This one-day workshop is designed to provide participants a better understanding of Cultural Proficiency to enhance the learnings from an Aboriginal cultural Awareness Training program.  Increased competency builds on awareness.  This training incorporates both the principles of Cultural Competency Building and Cultural Awareness.

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The content also focuses on giving participants a better understanding of their own culture and how this has shaped their own behaviors, values, beliefs and family structures, which in turn allows them to understand and appreciate people from other cultures.

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Session 1 - Aboriginal Cultural Proficiency:

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This session will enable participants to develop a greater understanding of:

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• Cultural Proficiency.

• The Guiding Principles of Cultural Proficiency.

• Why Cultural Proficiency is Important.

• The Essential Elements of Cultural Proficiency

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Session 2 – Aboriginal Cultural Competence:

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This session will enable participants to develop a greater understanding of:

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• Cultural Competence.

• Why Aboriginal or Cultural Competency is Important.

• The Concept of Culture.

• Steps to Minimise Cultural Bias.

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Session 3 – Aboriginal Cultural Sensitivity:

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This session will enable participants to develop a greater understanding of:

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• Our shared history and key events that effect Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people.

• Why the past issues still matter today.

• Intercultural communication.

• How to assess cultural issues that might impact on cross cultural relationships.

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Session 4 – Aboriginal Cultural Knowledge:

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This session will enable participants to develop a greater understanding of:

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• Aboriginal Culture.

• Different Language Groups.

• Connection to Country and why it is important.

• The Family and Kinship System.

• Customary Law.

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Session 5 – Aboriginal Cultural Awareness

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This session will enable participants to develop a greater understanding of:

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• Who are Aboriginal Australians.

• Why Indigenous Australians refer to themselves using different names.

• Significant events that may influence current values, beliefs, and attitudes.

• Aspects of the environment that influence cultural identity.

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Session 6 – Strategies for Working Aboriginal People

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This session will enable participants to develop a greater understanding of:

• Inter-cultural communication and culture.

• How culture can dictate how Aboriginal people communicate.

• Barriers and considerations when communicating with Aboriginal people.

• Strategies to overcome communication across cultures.

• Strategies for working with Aboriginal people and ways to access cultural issues which might impact on your relationships with Aboriginal people.

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Summary

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Primarily this training has been designed to support companies, organisations, and individuals to develop their Cultural Competency and Cultural Awareness framework. 

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Further to provide participants with an understanding of:

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• Cultural Proficiency

• Cultural Competency

• Cultural Sensitivity

• Cultural Safety and;

• Assist participants develop Community Engagement strategies to work more effectively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities.