Working with Diversity in Counselling: Understanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures

Student Name:
Student ID:
33464/02 Short Answer Questions and written report
E1202A Diploma of
Counselling
Module 2: Working with
diversity
This is assessment 2 of 2.
1. Background/Overview
Counsellors are exposed to diversity within all aspects of
counselling practice, and are challenged by social and cultural
factors in the workplace every day. It is important for you to
demonstrate knowledge and respect towards Aboriginal and/or
Torres Strait Islander cultures.
2. Brief
For this assessment, you will need to answer eight questions
about diversity in the workplace and the Aboriginal and/or Torres
Strait Islander cultures.
Make sure that you use your own words when answering
the questions.
Deliverables
Please submit this assessment
in Word doc format.
To do list:
1. Write your name and
student ID at the top of this
page.
2. Read the
background/overview and
brief sections of this
document.
3. Read the scenario.
4. Answer eight questions.
5. Collate your written
answers into one Word
document.
6. Save the Word document
using the naming
convention: your student
number assessment
number.doc. For example:
“12345678_33464_02.doc.”
7. Upload your document in
Open Space using the
relevant Assessment
Upload link in this Module.
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3. Questions/Tasks
Read carefully the following scenario.
Scenario
Alinga is a client at Real Matters. She is a teenager with an aboriginal background. She has some issues at
school and is at risk of disengaging from school, she feels like no one is listening to her. She also feels like she is
being discriminated against.
She has been supported a few months ago by Warrie, and a counsellor who just left.
She tells you she is not going back to school and if she is forced to go back she is going to do something to
make sure no one will be able to force her.
You spend some time with Alinga to explore and clarify what she means by “I am going to do something to
make sure no one will be able to make me”. She says that she is going to run away to an Aboriginal community
where she will be listened to and where she will feel better and more accepted. She feels she does not belong
or have a ‘place’ here.
You discuss with Alinga about having a yarn with Warrie, and also recommend involving another young female
Indigenous case worker to speak to her.
You also seek consultation/supervision with Warrie to determine the best way to follow through with Alinga.
1. In working with Alinga:
a) Reflect on any social/cultural perspectives and biases you have that may impact on the services
you provide Alinga. List three strategies that you can put in place to overcome these
perspectives and biases? (Approx. 200 words)
Type your answer below:
The psychotherapeutic consultancy mostly depends on the verbal interaction of consultant with
the client (Adigwe and Okoro, 2016). However, I believe that traditional collective societies
like the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander cultures do not regard verbal communication as
means to solve personal issues. Traditional cultures mostly use non-verbal communication for
self-exploration. Therefore, I should pay more time and build trust with Alinga before she
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starts to discuss her opinion with me.
Secondly, I believe that the people belonging to Aboriginal background found English
language as difficult to understand as it is not their native language. Therefore, I tried to seek
support of another female Indigenous worker as an interpreter so that Alinga can comfortably
share her thoughts to me in her chosen language.
Another bias that I have is related to social perspective about indigenous people. I believe that
they often feel discomfort in answering direct question. Direct questions are being considered
as doubtful by such people as they start to think about finding reasons of such blunt queries.
Therefore, I should treat her with dignity by asking indirect question such as asking about
having discussion with Warrie so as to make her feel comfortable at first place.
b) Reflect on how limitations in your self- awareness and social awareness may impact on the
services you provide Alinga. Identify three strategies to work with these limitations to ensure
Alinga receives the service that she needs. (Approx. 200 words)
Type your answer below:
Though I am aware of own-cultural background, I have limited understanding of the
Aboriginal peoples’ cultures. It might impact on the behaviour of Alinga which may further
affect my consultancy support. To overcome the issue, I should improve my cultural awareness
of Aboriginals by referring to ethno-specific resources. Ethnic groups have identical interests,
history and common cultural features like religion, behaviour and language. The ethnological
study would be helpful for me to better understand Alinga’s beliefs and value. In this way, I
will be more confident of discussing things related to her culture. This will also help to
minimise the negative effect of cultural biases.
Communication is another significant element of consultancy where I can utilize my
knowledge of diversity and skills to provide services. It is important for me to evaluate own
communication skills to identify areas to improve. Also, I must ensure to use nonverbal
communication along with verbal in order to build strong relationship with client and develop
trust.
Another strategy to minimise cultural misunderstandings or its effect on consultancy services
may be to engage someone who is well-known to the client. I should seek help from Family
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member of Alinga or her spiritual / religion minister who should be having ample background
knowledge about her and may provide me useful input to effectively guide her.
2. List three advantages that a young female Indigenous caseworker would have in working with
Alinga? (Approx. 100 words)
Type your answer below:
1) Being a female client, Alinga may refuse to work with male case worker. Also she may not
be comfortable with an older authoritative person. So a young female case worker would be
suitable to get involved in the case.
2) The Indigenous case worker may also work as an interpreter so that Alinga can freely
express her thoughts and feelings in her native language.
3) As Indigenous case workers are specially trained, it might be a good idea to use their
services to provide valuable guidance in case of conflicts.
3. List two different organisations and explain how they can support Alinga (and other Aboriginal and/or
Torres Strait Islander people) in social and cultural aspects (e.g. interpreters). Identify how you can
establish partnership with them. (Approx. 100 words)
Organisation Support and services provided How to promote partnerships
Australian
Human Rights
Commission
The Commission proactively
work to safeguard social justice
of Aboriginal peoples by
monitoring the impact of
Government policies on related
matters. It also provides advice
on human rights issues of
Indigenous societies such as
family violence, health and
children’s rights (Australian
Human Rights Commission,
The Commission organises several
events, partnerships can be
established by helping and
promoting their events.
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