Background: Developing a culturally competent health workforce is a key strategy in the struggle to provide quality healthcare services for Aboriginal people. Since 2000, the Centre for Aboriginal Medical and Dental Health has implemented a comprehensive vertically and horizontally integrated Aboriginal health curriculum across the 6 year MBBS program at the University of Western Australia. This involves considerable core teaching, a range of options, electives and selectives plus an Aboriginal health specialisation within the MBBS...read more
Cultural competency training for health professionals is now a recognised strategy to address health disparities between minority and white populations in Western nations. In Australia, urgent action is required to "Close the Gap" between the health outcomes of Indigenous Australians and the dominant European population, and significantly, cultural competency development for health professionals has been identified as an important element to providing culturally safe care. This paper describes a compulsory interprofessional first-year unit in a...read more
We Al-li community and workplace workshops are an Indigenous therapeutic response to individual, family and community pain that many people carry as part of their life experience. For Aboriginal peoples this pain is more specifically defined as the traumatic impacts of the multiple intergenerational experiences of colonisation resulting in ill-health, individual, family and community dysfunction (dys - Latin from the Greek dus meaning painful or difficult functioning). We Al-li specifically meets this need through tailored...read more
We Al-li community and workplace workshops are an Indigenous therapeutic response to individual, family and community pain that many people carry as part of their life experience. For Aboriginal peoples this pain is more specifically defined as the traumatic impacts of the multiple intergenerational experiences of colonisation resulting in ill-health, individual, family and community dysfunction (dys - Latin from the Greek dus meaning painful or difficult functioning). We Al-li specifically meets this need through tailored...read more
This 5-day course is conducted by The Australian Institute for Loss & Grief (AIL&G) and Relationships Australia (SA). The course program uses culturally appropriate, well-established methodologies with unique and original beliefs, concepts, understanding and practices from ‘lived experiences’. The course covers three nationally recognised units from the Certificate IV in Community Development (CHC40808): CHCCS416B – Assess and provide services for clients with complex needs CHCCD413E – Work within specific communities HLTHIR404D – Work effectively with...read more
This article describes a pilot evaluation involving teaching and learning activities focussed on developing intercultural competencies in an undergraduate psychology unit. Specifically, first year psychology students engaged in two tasks derived from the alliance building and cultural mapping methods of an existing intercultural training resource—the Excellence in Cultural Experiential Learning and Leadership (EXCELL; Mak, Westwood, Barker, & Ishiyama) programme. At the end of the semester, 94 first year psychology students (mean age = 21.6, standard...read more
An easy to read spreadsheet listing traps, tips, and resources for psychology educators in the process of Indigensing the psychology curriculum. This document is a work in progress, all feedback and suggestions are welcomed. indigenising_the_psychology_curriculum_-_traps_and_tips.pdfread more
A major focus of this unit is to develop what Freire called conscientisation, or heightened socio political awareness. Through this lens students will explore the range of definitions associated with the term 'culture' including gender, disability, religion, sexuality and ethnicity. Importantly, they will be encouraged to examine personal, structural and cultural racism as it exists in Australia and more broadly internationally. The political context and purpose of exclusion and marginalisation are examined. In addition, specific...read more
Consists of two components: intercultural psychology and developmental psychology. The intercultural psychology component aims to develop a critical awareness of, and appreciate for cultural, social and psychological diversity. Psychological perspectives related to cultural diversity, individual and group identities and Indigenous and dominant communities is introduced Learning outcomes: On the successful completion of this unit, students are expected to be able to: 1. Demonstrate a greater awareness of psychological perspectives on cultural and social diversity 2...read more
This unit is the foundation unit in Aboriginal Studies. It aims at promoting, from an historical perspective, an understanding of Aboriginal people of Western Australia. It focuses on a broad range of ideas including Aboriginal and European contact and the ensuing disruption of traditional culture, interracial conflict and government legislation. The unit provides an introduction to a number of current issues affecting Aboriginal people, including health, education, law, business, cross-cultural relationships, land rights and Aboriginal...read more
