CULTURAL COMPETENCE –WORKING WITH DIVERSITY

Introduction

• NAMASTE - everyone

• My name is NIRMALA NARASIMHAN

• I migrated to New Zealand in 1999

Introduction

• I come from India, a multi-cultural, multi ethnic, multi lingual, multi religious country that was colonised by the French, Portugese, Dutch and finally by the British who defeated all other European Imperialist colonisers in India and established sole control over India for around 200 years.

• Re-qualified as a Social Worker through Massey University – with a MSW (applied)

Background

• Child Youth and Family for 10.5 years – Care and Protection, Youth Justice and Family Safety Team.

• Team Manager of the Social Work programme in Wintec for 5 years

• Currently - Allied Health Social Work Manager for Older Persons and Rehabilitation, Child Development Centre and Rural and Community Services for the Waikato DHB.

Background

• Founding member of SHAMA- the Hamilton Ethnic Women’s Centre, which focus on empowering women from different ethnicities who are experiencing, domestic violence and issues of migration, provides advocacy and a number of other services.

Shama Hamilton Ethnic Women's Centre

• Vibrant social service agency providing support, advocacy and programmes in order to empower all ethnic women, their children and their families.

Presentation

• I will be talking about, cultural competence –from the perspective of the client - who is “different.”

• As a person of “difference” what has shaped me/people like me- (migrants and refugees) in our journey in New Zealand –sharing “lived experience” stories.

• What would we (“different”) like “cultural competence” look like - from our end.

Competency –elements

• The 4 aspects of competency are:

• Awareness

• Sensitivity

• Knowledge

• Skills

Engagement

• Acknowledge - correct pronunciation of name ……

• Greetings in the language if possible …. Start building trust…..

• Ask – how to interact – name….Mr….Mrs….not first name

• Where they are from – what do they miss about home.

• How long have they been in NZ

• How many languages do they speak

Engagement

• Affirm – use strength based language - multi-lingual ability, (English as an additional language) For the majority – coming from colonised background being multi-lingual is normal

• RESPECT – use of appropriate language –

• Check information prior to meeting

• Inform - Who are you –role and from where…….

• Role of a social worker in NZ – as this role interpretation could be different in different countries

Engagement - Explore

• Where is the individual in the acculturation process?

• Acculturation is a continuum - ……where is this person at?

• Length of stay of the family in NZ

• Country of birth – colonised or not

• Area of origin – rural/small town/large metropolis

• Immigration experience-/refugee?

• Religion /beliefs of ….medical system/DV/role of women/children

• What was their first experience in NZ

•Engagement - inform

• Explain your role -

• Where you work….

• Length of experience

• Authority – position

• Boundary – what my role limitation is

Engagement -

• Slow engagement ……

• Understanding the background of the person

• What are their successes in NZ?

• Talk about family – children……

• Inform reason for your visit/meeting

Engagement

• Use humour- share stories

• Seek similar resources/networks/support in clients own country

• Awareness of ideological clashes between generations.

• Length of stay of the family in NZ

• Awareness of the role of religion and its expectations on individuals.

• Importance of allowing family/client to rationalise and want change

Common background-

• Non welfare

• Multi -language

• Multi-cultural

• Traditional systems /structures

• Family centered

• Patriarchal

• Children have duties/obedience – NO RIGHTS

Common background ….

• Gender roles

• Hierarchy of family structure

• Self esteem/self worth – based on gender role expectations

• Stratified societies – power, status based

• Collectivist societies

• Religion, tradition and culture are often intertwined

Common background- Awareness

• Allow time

• Awareness of how disability is viewed

• Expectations on children to be high performers

• Sensitive in talking about feelings

• USE OF CULTUREGRAMS include all factors

•THANK YOU ALL FOR LISTENING

•NAMASTE

ANY QUESTIONS ?