Application
This unit applies to correctional services staff working with colleagues and with offenders in prisons, secure custodial centres, within the community, workers in juvenile detention, immigration detention or other contexts where working with detained persons is part of the work role.
Prerequisites
Not applicable.
Elements and Performance Criteria
1 Reflect cultural awareness in work practice | 1.1 Use culturally appropriate work practices to demonstrate awareness of culture as a factor in all human behaviour. 1.2 Use work practices that create a culturally and psychologically safe environment for all persons. 1.3 Review and modify work practices in consultation with persons from diverse cultural backgrounds. |
2 Accept cultural diversity as a basis for effective workplace and professional relationships | 2.1 Show respect for cultural diversity in all communication and interactions with colleagues, visitors and offenders. 2.2 Use specific strategies to eliminate bias and discrimination in the workplace. 2.3 Contribute to the development of workplace and professional relationships based on acceptance of cultural diversity. |
3 Communicate effectively with culturally diverse persons | 3.1 Use communication constructively to develop and maintain effective relationships and mutual trust. 3.2 Where language barriers exist, make efforts to communicate in the most effective way possible. 3.3 Seek assistance from interpreters or other persons as required. |
4 Resolve cross-cultural misunderstandings | 4.1 Identify issues that may cause conflict. 4.2 If difficulties or misunderstandings occur, consider the impact of cultural differences. 4.3 Resolve differences, taking account of cultural considerations. 4.4 Address any difficulties with appropriate people and seek assistance when required. |
Required Skills
Required skills: applying culturally respectful practices in the workplace to demonstrate respect and inclusiveness of culturally diverse people in all work practices sensitively and respectfully communicating with persons of diverse backgrounds and cultures forming effective workplace relationships with co-workers and colleagues of diverse backgrounds and cultures participating in identifying and implementing culturally safe work practices using effective strategies to address and eliminate discrimination and bias in the workplace using basic conflict resolution and negotiation skills |
Required knowledge: cultural influences and changing cultural practices in Australia and their impact on diverse communities that make up Australian society own cultural conceptions and pre-conceptions and perspective of diverse cultures recognition of impact of cultural practices and experience on personal behaviour, interpersonal relationships, perception and social expectations of others culture as a dynamic social phenomenon culture as a range of social practices and beliefs evolving over time that the word ‘normal’ is a value-laden, excluding concept that often precludes acknowledgment of the diversity of people, their life experience and situations the unique way individuals may experience a culture and respond to past experiences the principles of equal employment opportunity, sex, race, disability, anti availability of resources and assistance within and external to the organisation in relation to cultural diversity issues the role and use of language and cultural interpreters |
Evidence Required
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package. | |
Overview of assessment | This unit has been designed to be assessed directly in the workplace using a range of applications relevant to the organisation requirements and the define work role and responsibilities. The underpinning knowledge of this unit may be assessed as part of a training program or professional development activity and needs to be integrated with evidence from work exercises. |
Critical aspect for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit | Assessment and evidence should confirm the ability to: recognise the importance of cultural diversity sensitivity in the workplace use strategies to eliminate bias and discrimination in the workplace communicate effectively to build positive relationships identify cultural issues that may cause conflict seek further assistance when required to resolve difficulties related to cultural diversity |
Context of and specific resource for assessment | Valid assessment of this unit requires: a workplace environment or one that closely resembles normal work practice and replicates the range of conditions likely to be encountered by an individual when working with colleagues and offenders. copies of relevant legislation, policies, procedures and guidelines access to appropriate learning and assessment support when required |
Method of assessment | The following assessment methods are suggested: observation of performance in routine workplace activities within a range of agreed responsibilities and in various work locations written and/or oral questioning to assess knowledge and understanding completion of workplace documents and reports produced as part of interview process third-party reports from experienced practitioners completion of performance feedback from supervisors and colleagues |
Guidance information for assessment | Assessment methods should reflect workplace demands, and any identified special needs of the candidate, including language and literacy implications and cultural factors that may affect responses to the questions. In all cases where practical assessment is used it will be combined with targeted questioning to assess the underpinning knowledge. |
Range Statement
Work practices may relate to: | dealing with persons of diverse gender, sexuality and age compliance with duty of care policies of the organisation collection and provision of information communication provision of assistance contact with families and carers physical contact care of deceased persons handling personal belongings provision of food services |
Work practices that are culturally appropriate would be non-discriminatory and free of bias, stereotyping, racism and prejudice. | |
Cultural diversity may include: | ethnicity race language cultural norms and values religion beliefs and customs kinship and family structure and relationships social relationships such as: gangs socio-economic groups personal history and experience, which may have been traumatic gender and gender relationships age disability sexuality special needs |
Communication may be: | verbal appropriate gestures and facial and physical expressions posture written signage though an interpreter or other person |
Strategies to eliminate bias and discrimination may include: | cross cultural work teams cross cultural employee representation on committees workplace free of culturally insensitive literature, posters, signage inclusion in decision-making |
Sectors
Organisational administration and management
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills.
Licensing Information
Not applicable.