Aboriginal Safety: Cultural Awareness and Workplace Strategies

This article discusses the significance of cultural awareness and workplace strategies in promoting Aboriginal safety in community services and health contexts. It also explores relevant laws and education for Aboriginal people. The article emphasizes the importance of developing awareness of individual cultures and creating an atmosphere of openness in the workplace.

Running head: ABORIGINAL SAFETY
ABORIGINAL SAFETY
Name of the student:
Name of University:
Author Note:

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Section B.
Answer to question 1.
The competent cultural awareness of the concept of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander people can promote cultural safety in the community services as well as health
context. The cultural safety is the result of education which allows safe services to the receipt
of the services. The unsafe cultural practices diminish, demean and disempower the cultural
identity as well as the wellbeing of the individuals. Cultural safety enhances the delivery of
health and other services by recognizing the power relationship among the recipients and the
health care professionals. This enables the receiver of the health care and community services
to take best advantage of those service provided.
The competent cultural awareness makes the service providers to examine their
preconceived ideas as well as stereotypes. It must be a compulsory exercise for overcoming
the racist attitudes along with discrimination practices in the community and health care
service delivery. In order to provide services, the organizations follow some regulations.
These are-
 Maintaining respect for all cultures, experience, obligations and knowledge.
 Accessing to prerequisites of effective participation in the system of the dominant
culture which include administration support, organizational and communicational
skills, political and financial resources.
 Each client is to treated with dignity without any assault on the cultural identity
 Debunking that all aboriginal cultures are same.
Answer to question 2.
The aboriginal laws before the settlement of the British, in 1788, were considered to
be primitive. Being over 500 tribes at one point, the Australian aborigines had diverse

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guidelines and regulations which were not possible to be followed. As their culture and
ethnicity was completely different from the Whites, the country needed some new
regulations. In order to recognize the diversity in the aboriginal and Torres Islanders,
amendments were needed.
One of the most important act that effected the aborigines of Australia was the
Aboriginal Land Council Elections Act of 1983. The aboriginal communities of Australia
were benefitted with this law as a compensation to the historic disposition of land as well as
support system in their economic and social development (Aboriginalaffairs.nsw.gov.au
2018). This law recognizes traditional ownership as well as occupation of land by the
aboriginal people and their connection to their land. Through this particular law, the
government recognizes the social, cultural, spiritual and economic meaning of land to these
aboriginal people.
In 2013, the government of Australia passed the act of recognition (Indigenous.gov.au
2018). Through this law, the senate acknowledges the rights of the aboriginal people as the
first inhabitants of the nation. Secondly, this act fostered momentum for referendum for the
constitutional recognition of the aboriginal and Torres islander people. The government of
Australia has committed $10 million towards the campaign being led by the recognition, part
of reconciliation Australia in order to continue for building support of a successful
referendum.
In 2007, the government took measures to respond the emergencies in the aboriginal
region of the country. These measures include deployment of additional force to the affected
communities, imposing new restrictions on alcohol and kava. The commonwealth increased
funding for the provision of community services. In addition to this, the government also
abolished the community development employment projects in the Aboriginal Australia.

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Answer to question 3.
For maintaining diversity in the workplace and respect them, the leaders need to follow
culturally appropriate practices.
1. Acceptance and appreciation for diversity: Accepting diversity and mandating them
has proved to be beneficial for the organizations. A diverse workforce adds to the
cultural understanding and collection of various languages. This diversity also
provides scope for the company to judge one matter from different viewpoints thus
gain opportunity to follow different approaches to the problems. Thus this results in
more efficient execution of the tasks. In addition to this, diversity in the workplace
help to teach other employees to approach other cultures especially the cultures of the
aboriginals. This guides to overcome barriers and build other skills which are very
necessary in this modern globalized world.
2. Development of legal and ethical sensitivity: developing ethical along with legal
sensitivity, is highly important for the clients as well as the employees. The
employees do not want anything illegal in their organizations. The employees as well
as clients from different cultures are more sensitive with their moral values and rights.
Working with them needs moral and legal base without which the company’s
reputation can be affected.
Answer to question 6.
Relevant and culturally appropriate education is a necessary for the aboriginal people
without which the aboriginal people will not be able to gain information about the various
kinds of diseases and their treatments (Jeffreys 2015). Each of the clans has different types of
methodology to cure the ailment but these are primitive. Through education, the government
will be able to create awareness.

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Poor living conditions is one of the most important factors for which the aboriginal
people of Australia has recorded a high mortality rate. The high income gap between the
whites and the aboriginals is so wide that it affects the health care systems provided by the
government. The lifestyle and living condition leads to inability to avail and get treatment for
ailment.
Feelings of isolation and vulnerability: isolation of the aboriginal communities is the
result of discrimination which create barrier in serving the communities but he social are
practitioners. Due to feelings of vulnerability, the members of the community tend to avid the
treatment process in the government hospitals. Gradually this affect in their mental health and
find shelter in drug addiction.
Section C.
Answer to question 3.
Common workplace strategies include,
1. Developing awareness of individual cultures: learning about the culture and ethnicity
of the aboriginal people is important. It is necessary even for the basic level of
communication among the employees (Gill 2015). Create awareness of differences in
the verbal as well as non-verbal communication. Understanding the code of behavior
accepted but the members.
2. Creating atmosphere of openness: the managers need to create an open environment
so that the employees can communicate themselves and feel comfortable to inform
any issues regarding discrimination.

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References:
Aboriginalaffairs.nsw.gov.au (2018). Aboriginal Land Rights Act (ALRA) | Aboriginal
Affairs NSW. [online] Aboriginalaffairs.nsw.gov.au. Available at:
https://www.aboriginalaffairs.nsw.gov.au/land-rights/alra [Accessed 3 Apr. 2018].
Gill, R., 2015. Why the PR strategy of storytelling improves employee engagement and adds
value to CSR: An integrated literature review. Public Relations Review, 41(5), pp.662-674.
Indigenous.gov.au (2018). Act of Recognition passes the Senate. [online] Indigenous.gov.au.
Available at: http://www.indigenous.gov.au/act-of-recognition-passes-the-senate [Accessed 3
Apr. 2018].
Jeffreys, M.R., 2015. Teaching cultural competence in nursing and health care: Inquiry,
action, and innovation. Springer Publishing Company.