PART A

Explore your values and beliefs

This section is not scored. It is intended as an opportunity for you to reflect on your values and beliefs. You will be given different scenarios. Please select the answer that most reflects how you would respond to that situation.

After responding to each scenario, we will reflect on the learnings from the option you chose.

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Scenario 1

Pier has been asked to organise several activities at his workplace during Cultural Diversity Week. He discusses his ideas with his teammates and asks people to help with organising some of the activities. Unfortunately, most of his colleagues appear to be disinterested or too busy to participate. What should Pier do:*

a) Pier should approach his manager and let her know that, due to the lack of interest in the initiative, it would not be feasible to go ahead.

b) Pier should raise this as a concern with his manager and collaborate to address the lack of engagement among staff. This might involve offering training and resources to improve staff understanding of the migrant and refugee experience.

c) Pier should go ahead and arrange a couple of activities on his own and hope that people find the time to participate.

Reflections:

The theme of this scenario is: Cultural diversity as a cause for celebration.

Option a) This response acknowledges the dilemma Pier faces due to the lack of interest from his colleagues. While Pier may have wanted to proceed with the initiative, the absence of support or engagement from coworkers presents a significant barrier. Pier may also feel hesitant to voice concerns about the initiative due to potential power dynamics within the organization. While approaching his manager could be considered, it's important to recognize that this situation highlights broader issues within the organization regarding the value placed on cultural diversity.

Option b) Pier is taking a proactive approach that goes beyond simply completing a set task. By working with management to address the issue of staff disengagement, Pier can ensure a more meaningful and impactful celebration of cultural diversity in the workplace.

Option c) Pier's initiative in organizing activities on his own reflects his commitment to celebrating cultural diversity. However, the limited engagement from colleagues, hints at a broader organizational issue, possibly indicating a lack of emphasis on cultural diversity within the organisation’s culture. While Pier's efforts may generate some interest, addressing the underlying organizational culture is essential to fostering genuine engagement with cultural diversity initiatives.

Scenario 2

A local library is considering allocating a section for books written in languages other than English to better serve the linguistic needs of the community. However, due to space restrictions, it would mean that less space would be available for other collections. During a public forum discussing this initiative, what would you say:*

a) ‘’I’m not sure if it is necessary to have books in languages other than English in our library, especially if it would reduce space for other collections. While it is important to be inclusive, I think we should focus on promoting English literacy instead.’’

b) ‘’I don’t see the point of having books in languages other than English in our library, especially if it means sacrificing space for other collections. This is an English-speaking country and people should learn English if they want to use the library. We shouldn’t waste resources on accommodating other languages.’’

c) ‘’I believe it is important for our library to offer books in languages other than English to cater to the linguistic diversity of our community. However, I understand that space is limited, so we should explore ways to balance this need with other collections. Providing access to literature in different languages not only promotes inclusivity but also celebrates the richness of our multicultural society. It is a small but meaningful way to ensure everyone feels welcome and represented in our library.’’

Reflections:

The theme of this scenario is: Understanding inclusivity

Option a) This response demonstrates some hesitation regarding the necessity of offering books in languages other than English. While acknowledging the importance of inclusivity, it prioritises English literacy over linguistic diversity. By suggesting that people should conform to the English-speaking norm, it perpetuates the idea of privileging one culture over others. This approach disregards the cultural diversity within the community and fails to recognise the importance of accommodating different linguistic backgrounds.

Option b) This response reflects a narrow view of inclusivity and cultural diversity. By dismissing the importance of offering books in languages other than English and suggesting that individuals should simply learn English, it overlooks the linguistic and cultural needs of the community. It also perpetuates a monocultural perspective that prioritises the dominant culture over accommodating diverse linguistic backgrounds.

Option c) This response advocates for the importance of offering books in languages other than English. While acknowledging space limitations, it emphasizes the significance of promoting inclusivity and celebrating cultural richness. By suggesting a balanced approach to accommodate diverse collections, this response aligns with fostering a welcoming and representative environment in the library.

Scenario 3

Selma is a newly appointed training coordinator in your team with many years of experience in delivering training programs. She has asked you to help her develop a cultural competence training module, which needs to cover diversity and barriers to service access. In completing your task, you highlight that diversity has many dimensions including age, gender, socio-economic status and sexual orientation, all of which can intersect and affect access to services. After reviewing your work, Selma suggests that you rewrite the section on diversity, arguing that there is no need to include other factors in a module that is about cultural competence. She stresses that including other aspects of diversity will distract from the main theme. How would you respond to Selma:*

a) You respectfully challenge Selma’s perspective, explaining that diversity is multifaceted and can affect access to services in different ways. You stress the importance of acknowledging that each person is unique and shaped by multiple dimensions of diversity. Emphasizing this point is crucial for cultural competence as it ensures that training participants understand the complexity of diversity and its impact on service provision.

b) You agree to rewrite the section, as Selma is the training expert. She is an experienced training coordinator and understands how training modules should be written.

c) You believe Selma’s approach is wrong, but you also acknowledge the difficulty of changing someone’s mindset, especially someone with many years of experience. Instead of directly challenging Selma, you decide to weave in discussions about other dimensions of diversity during the training session, recognising that this may be a way to explore the topic without causing conflict.

Reflections:

The theme is this scenario is: Understanding intersectionality and the complexity of identity

Option a) This response demonstrates your understanding of intersectionality. This is essential for a more holistic approach to clients’ needs, experiences and challenges. By acknowledging other dimensions such as age, gender, socio-economic status and ability, you recognise the intersectionality of these identities, all of which can influence access to services. This broader perspective underpins culturally competent practice as it helps practitioners to develop individually tailored approaches, leading to more responsive practice.

Option b) This response fails to recognise that diversity goes beyond culture, language and ethnicity. It is important to understand the various dimensions of diversity to ensure a comprehensive understanding of diversity and cultural competence.

Option c) This response recognises that diversity encompasses more than just culture and language. However, this approach misses the opportunity to advocate, at an organisational level, for a more comprehensive understanding of diversity and cultural competence.

Scenario 4

You are a social worker conducting an intake assessment with a newly-arrived refugee family. During the meeting, you notice that the family seem reluctant to express their needs and concerns openly. Despite your efforts to create a welcoming and supportive environment, the family remains reserved and reluctant to participate in discussions and decision-making. Which of the following responses would you choose:*

a) ‘’I noticed that the family seemed a bit quiet during the meeting but I didn’t think much of it. Maybe they’re just adjusting to their new surroundings.”

b) “I recognise power differentials between practitioners and refugee clients and that they may lead to reluctance to voice needs or concerns. Despite my efforts to create a welcoming environment, the family may still feel apprehensive about expressing their needs. It is important for me to be sensitive to these dynamics and find ways to empower the family to voice their issues and actively participate in the decision-making process.”

c) “The family is being difficult. They should just tell us what they need and we will try to help them. That’s what our service is for.”

Reflections:

The theme of this scenario is: Recognising power differentials and understanding the implications.

Option a) This response fails to acknowledge potential power differentials because it attributes the family’s behaviour to a simple adjustment issue, rather than considering other possible reasons behind their reluctance to participate. It overlooks the potential influence of power dynamics, cultural differences and past experiences of oppression or marginalisation. It thereby fails to address the need to create a supportive environment where the family feels safe to voice their concerns.

Option b) This response acknowledges the potential power dynamics at play and emphasizes the importance of sensitivity and empowerment in fostering open communication and participation from the family. It demonstrates an understanding of the complexities involved and a commitment to addressing them in a supportive manner.

Option c) This option implies that the family should conform to the expectations set by the social worker. By placing the responsibility solely on the family to express their needs, it overlooks the potential challenges and fears that the family may face, especially considering their status as refugees who have experienced trauma and displacement. It fails to acknowledge power differentials and may further discourage the family from engaging in open communication.

Scenario 5

Ying has been tasked with a project aimed at increasing access to mental health services for several Horn of Africa communities. She feels this will be a great project as she will be working collaboratively with African community members to devise an initiative that will address common challenges in accessing services. As Ying begins planning the project, she realises the complexity of the task at hand. Each ethnic group from the Horn of Africa seems to have its own unique traditions, structures, languages and histories, all shaped by the diverse experiences of migration, war and displacement. Some groups are also affected by long-standing conflicts. Ying soon realises that a uniform strategy might not be possible. What would you advise Ying to do:*

a) Rather than trying to accommodate everyone with differing needs and preferences, Ying should translate existing written resources about mental health services into the different languages of the Horn of Africa. That way, no one will miss out.

b) Ying should engage community leaders and members from each ethnic group to understand their specific concerns and preferences. Understanding the dynamics within each ethnic group and identifying key people or organisations will ensure that all voices are heard and represented.

c) Tell Ying that trying to accommodate all the diverse ethnic groups from the Horn of Africa might be too overwhelming, time consuming and costly. It would be more effective to focus on one or two groups rather than attempting to reach so many communities.

Reflections:

The theme of this scenario is: Acknowledging diversity within diversity.

Option a) This approach prioritizes efficiency and scalability. However, it does not take into account the fact that many cultures transfer information verbally, not in the written form, and that people may not be literate in their first language. Written resources are used as a complement to verbal information rather than the sole source.

Option b) This inclusive approach addresses diversity between and within communities. Each group has its own unique experiences, needs and perspectives. By actively involving community leaders and members from each ethnic group, Ying can ensure that the project reflects the diverse needs of the communities it aims to serve. While this approach may require additional effort and resources, it fosters trust, collaboration, and ownership within the communities, ultimately leading to more sustainable and culturally relevant solutions.

Option c) This option acknowledges the practical limitations of trying to accommodate diverse ethnic groups within the Horn of Africa. By concentrating efforts on one or two communities, resources can be allocated more effectively, leading to more impactful and culturally targeted interventions. However, this option will exclude a number of communities, overlooking their unique needs and potentially perpetuating disparities.

Scenario 6

You work in the People & Culture team of a very multicultural organisation, with employees from diverse cultural backgrounds collaborating on projects. During a team meeting in another part of the organisation, Tina questions the team leader’s suggestions and offers alternatives. Some male team members feel uncomfortable with Tina’s approach. They perceive her behaviour as too direct and confrontational. She also seems to be disrespecting the team leader. After the meeting, they contact you in People & Culture to share their concerns. What are your first thoughts about this incident:*

a) Tina’s colleagues are men expressing patriarchal views around how women should behave. These attitudes have no place in an Australian workplace and should therefore be ignored.

b) You do not have enough information to make a definitive conclusion. It could be that Tina’s colleagues are men expressing patriarchal views or it could be that her colleagues’ perceptions are influenced by cultural norms on behaviour in the workplace. Or it could be that Tina was indeed out of line. You need to investigate further.

c) Tina’s colleagues come from a culture where respect for authority is highly valued. They are using their own cultural norms as a standard for judging Tina’s behaviour. They fail to recognise that different cultures have different expectations regarding communication styles and assertiveness in professional settings. Tina comes from a culture where speaking up and being direct is encouraged.

Reflections:

The theme of this scenario is: Do not jump to conclusions based on cultural assumptions

Option a) This response could be correct. However, it fails to acknowledge other possible explanations for Tina’s behaviour. Even if it is about gender expectations, this should be discussed with Tina’s colleagues in order to avoid such incidents in the future.

Option b) Well done, this response acknowledges the importance of not making assumptions without further information. Although we can draw on our knowledge about culture, each individual and every situation is unique and needs to be approached as a hypothesis to be tested.

Option c) This response could be correct. However, it also fails to acknowledge other possible explanations for Tina’s behaviour. This scenario highlights the importance of not making assumptions without further information. Although we can draw on our knowledge about culture, each individual and situation is unique and needs to be approached as a hypothesis to be tested.

Reflections Key

Preferred Answer

Acceptable Answer

Least Preferred Answer