‘Towards Cultural Competence: a framework for human service organisations and a guide to engaging consumers in the process’
Much of the writing on cultural competence has not taken into account the impact that changes in individual and organisational cultural competencies have on service users. Measures to identify whether the introduction of cultural competence frameworks or plans have made any noticeable impact on service users have typically been seen as too difficult and have not been developed.
This new MDAA publication aims to provide human service agencies with a framework to guide them in improving their ability to respond more fully and more holistically to the diversity in our communities. It provides both a cultural competence framework and a consumer evaluation guide.
The consumer evaluation guide (pages 16-30), developed by Felicity Zadro for MDAA with funding provided by the NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care (DADHC) in 2007, offers the first practical guide to ensure that consumers are able to reflect and provide feedback on an agency’s progress towards cultural competence.
The consumer evaluation guide is based on a cultural competence framework developed by Hayter and Bray for MDAA with funding provided by DADHC in 2007. The first part of this publication therefore introduces that framework (pages 4-15). Based on the available literature, the framework identifies areas of individual worker skills and knowledge and areas of organisational structures, policies and practices which are required for an individual or organisation to achieve cultural competence. On the individual level the framework identifies self awareness, cultural knowledge, linguistic competence and the integration of cultural knowledge into daily practices as the key competencies. On an organisational level the key areas identified are cultural competence planning, human resources development, professional development and training, community partnerships and governance, linguistic competence, service development, continuous quality improvement, data management and policy development.
As a consumer focused advocacy agency, MDAA strongly believes that any initiative an agency takes to improve the cultural competence of its services should be ‘felt’ by the service users. Without a measurable difference in the quality of service, as identified by consumers, cultural competence frameworks and plans remain largely academic, perhaps aiming to fulfil funding or monitoring requirements. By contrast, the evaluation guide which forms the second part of this publication (pages 17-30) is a tool to measure the effectiveness of services provided to all eligible members of the community. Agencies can use it as a guide to get meaningful feedback from consumers about the agency’s progress in its journey towards cultural competence.
Hard copies will be available from MDAA for purchase.
Give us your feedback on this publication and whether it works for you and your organisation.
Parliamentary Inquiry on Migration
Work is progressing on our submission to the Inquiry (see August NESB and Disability News). We held a consultation with MDAA consumers on 9 September and got some good ideas to include in our submission. People with disability and family members talked about their experiences as migrants to Australia or as sponsors, including the difficulties they had in overcoming the barriers in the migration law and regulations. We discussed the policies and procedures of the Department of Immigration and how to improve them. We also discussed the contribution people with disability and their families make to the Australian community.
If you or anyone you know would like to contribute to MDAA’s submission please call Adama on 9891 6400 as soon as possible.
The closing date for submissions is Wednesday 28 October.
For more information and the inquiry terms of reference, visit the inquiry website at http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/mig/disability/index.htm or contact the secretariat on (02) 6277 4560.
If you or your colleagues are interested in following the progress of the inquiry, requests to be added to an email distribution list for media releases may be sent to jscm@aph.gov.au.
Upcoming Cultural abilities training
Disability Rights Awareness 2 day workshop
The aim of the workshops is to enhance understanding of disability in a culturally diverse context and to learn about what legal services and support networks are available in the community. The workshops will cover laws and regulations that you need to consider in your workplace.
Making Your Service Accessible to People from NESB
This hands-on workshop attempts to resolve some of the most common difficulties workers have in trying to make their services more accessible to people from NESB. It will outline some of the barriers people from NESB experience when attempting to access services and work with participants to identify practical ways to address these in their agencies.
When: 14 October
Where: Northside Community Forum, Level 3, 1 Chandos Street, St Leonards
Work effectively with Culturally Diverse Clients and Co-Workers (CHCCS405A)
This nationally recognised one day training workshop is for people working with people with disability. The training course is designed to give you the cultural awareness you need to communicate and cooperate effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.
By the end of the training you will be able to:
- Demonstrate respect for culturally diverse people in all your work practices
- Demonstrate effective communication with people from culturally diverse backgrounds
- Use effective strategies to eliminate discrimination and bias in the workplace
- Recognise cultural diversity as a fact of life
- Identify and recognise how your own culture impacts on your practices, beliefs and experiences
When: 22 October
Where: TRI Community Exchange, 688 High Street, Penrith.
You can find the registration form at http://www.mdaa.org.au/training/calendar.pdf
State News
Translated Brochure: ‘Request for Court Assistance’
The Department of Justice and Attorney General recently translated their Request for Court Assistance brochure into Arabic, Chinese and Vietnamese. Each of the translated brochures has a photo of an MDAA member you may recognise: George Ayoub, Shu Hua Chan and Phillip Nguyen!
The brochure gives people with disability information about how you can ask for reasonable adjustments to assist you in court. The brochure has a translated form you can use to ask for your individual requirements.
The brochure is available through MDAA, at court houses, on the internet at www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/diversityservices or by contacting Diversity Services on 8688 7507.
New Online Resource to Address ‘Stark Health Inequalities’
On 11 August 2009 the NSW Governor, Professor Marie Bashir AC, launched a new online health factsheet resource for people with intellectual disabilities, their families and advocates, disability workers and other professionals. This resource was developed by the NSW Council for Intellectual Disability (NSW CID), with assistance from the NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care (DADHC).
The recently released final report of the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission recognised the ‘stark health and access inequalities for more than 300,000 people living with an intellectual disability.’
People with intellectual disabilities have very high rates of health problems and these problems are often not diagnosed or appropriately treated. Life expectancy is reduced by up to 20 years. There are many causes of this situation, ranging across communication barriers between patients and health professionals, complexity of diagnosis, lack of general and specialised skills in the health workforce, and health promotion campaigns and research not focusing on people with intellectual disabilities.
The new online resource contains over 30 health fact sheets specifically designed to help improve outcomes experienced by people with intellectual disability.
Spokesperson for NSW CID, and editor of the online fact sheets, Jim Simpson said: “These fact sheets address one of the barriers to equitable health care for people with intellectual disability – the lack of clear information about how people with intellectual disability can stay healthy and negotiate a health system which is not well attuned to their needs.”
The new online resource can be viewed at www.nswcid.org.au
Commonwealth News
National Mental Health and Disability Employment Strategy
On 16 September the Minister for Employment Participation, Senator Mark Arbib, and the Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services, Bill Shorten, announced the release of the Commonwealth Government’s National Mental Health and Disability Employment Strategy. The Strategy sets out a number of priority actions to get Australians with disability and mental illness into work. The Strategy includes the Rudd Government’s investment of $1.2 billion in new employment services for people with disability.
Senator Arbib said that from 1 March 2010 the Strategy would provide more personalised services for job seekers and support to employers of people with disability.
“For the first time, services will be demand driven,” Senator Arbib said.
“This means all job seekers with disability will have immediate access to assistance from an employment service helping them to gain skills and employment.”
The Strategy also includes a $6.8 million Disability Support Pension (DSP) Employment Incentive Pilot which will trial a new way of encouraging employers to offer employment to people with disability and allow DSP recipients to demonstrate their skills.
Mr Shorten said that employers would be supported through wage subsidies of up to $3,000 after the job seeker has remained in work for 26 weeks. Normal income taper rates will apply to DSP recipients who participate in the pilot.
“I know that many businesses want to do more to employ people with disability. This is why the Government is supporting this pilot which is expected to provide job opportunities for 1000 Australians who receive the DSP,” Mr Shorten said.
“Providing fulfilling work and economic independence for people with disability was a key to improving their inclusion in the community.
“There is no doubt that people with disability want to work, and can make a big contribution to businesses.
“We need to ensure that we remove the barriers and negative attitudes facing people with disability who want to work, and recognise their potential rather than their impairments.”
The Australian Government will continue to work with stakeholders including consumers, peak bodies, employers, state and territory governments and experts to increase education and employment opportunities for people with disability and make services work better for them.
Source: http://thegovmonitor.com/world_news/asia/australia-releases-national-mental-health-and-disability-employment-strategy-5236.html
FECCA Conference 29 – 30 October 2009, Shepparton, Victoria
Celebrate diversity and support FECCA at the 2009 FECCA Conference“Strengthening Multiculturalism and Building Social Inclusion”.
This year the conference will explore the twin themes of social inclusion and multiculturalism. It will consider how Australians from migrant and refugee backgrounds fit into the wider social inclusion agenda. Join leading thinkers and practitioners in multicultural affairs, settlement services, cultural diversity and immigration.
To be held in Shepparton, enjoy the fresh produce as well as the stimulating and informative panel session and plenary topics including: Human Rights for Ethnic and Religious Minorities, Multicultural Youth: Identity and Access, Regional Settlement, Interfaith, Social Inclusion for New and Emerging Communities, and Economic Participation and Skills.
Confirmed speakers include:
- Senator Chris Evans, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
- Laurie Ferguson, Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs and Settlement Services
- Senator Ursula Stephens, Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector
- Dr Sharman Stone, MP, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
- Dr Tanveer Ahmed, Psychiatrist and Writer
- Clare Martin, CEO, ACOSS
- Shaun Brown, Managing Director, SBS
Venue: Eastbank Centre, Shepparton, Victoria
Conference registration costs range from $110 to $440 depending on the package and concession eligibility. For further information and to register on line visit www.fecca.org.au or call 02 6282 5755.
News from across the World: International
Zambia
Disability Group receives 50,000 euros to revamp their farms
3.9.09 Power for Good, an organization based in Ireland has given 50,000 euros to the Zambia Persons with Disability (ZAPD) to revamp two of its 17 farms across the country.
ZAPD Acting Secretary General Charles Mwape disclosed this in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka on 3 September. Dr. Mwape named the two farms as Mitukuko in Solwezi and Linda in Livingstone.
He said his organization would ensure that the funds were used to support and help revamp the two farms.
And Dr. Mwape has said ZAPD has entered into a five year partnership agreement with the Zambia Federation of Disability Organisation (ZAFOD) to help his organization revamp its farms across the country. He noted that once all the farms were revamped, more than 1,000 jobs for persons with disability are expected to be created in the country. He said creating employment for persons with disability in the country would help to remove the disabled from the streets.
Dr. Mwape has also called upon other stakeholders to come forward and assist the agency with more funds for other farms to be revamped. He named other farms earmarked for resuscitation as Kangonda in Ndola, Mimosa in Lusaka and Kambowa in Ndola rural. Others are Kazembe and Mushota both in Luapula, Chitonkene in Mwinilunga, Masaiti in Luanshya and Sisenge also in Luanshya, among others.
Source: http://www.lusakatimes.com/
