Case Study 1 - Team Conflict

A team of community services workers is experiencing conflict. There is an Aboriginal worker on the team (Barry), a Muslim worker (Ahmed) and two white Australian workers (Janice and Julia). It started when Ahmed accused Barry of being lazy and rude - 'He never rushes, even when we are rushed off our feet and he doesn't even look me in the eyewhen he talks to me.'

Barry retaliates by accusing Ahmed of taking time off all the time to 'pray on his stupid prayer mat'.

Janice responds by saying, 'For God's sake, why can't you just be like the rest of us?'

Janice and Julia get caught up in it with, both Ahmed and Barry complaining all the time about each other and trying to get them to take sides.

Their conflict is impacting on their clients and colleagues.

1. There are a range of issues that are causing difficulties within this work team. List each one you can identify. For each issue you identify, indicate the cultural differences that are being misunderstood among the team members.

2. What could you suggest helping this team resolve their differences in a culturally sensitive manner? List at least one strategy.

3. Imagine Barry complains to management about the time Ahmed takes to pray. Ahmed puts forth a suggestion that his prayer time is taken as break times, and he still works a full day - just a longer one than his colleagues. Management refuses the suggestion as if he gets special treatment, everyone will want special treatment.

• What further issue has now occurred in this workplace?

4. Now let's imagine Ahmed's suggestion is successful. However, Barry continues to complain and encourages others to make fun of Ahmed during his time of prayer. Julia is very uncomfortable about what is happening.

• As an employee, what is Julia's responsibility in this situation?

5.Review the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. What Article/s are being breached in this scenario?

Case Study 2 - Fadi

Fadi has just come into full-time residential care. Fadi tells his son that the food is mainly western style, is very dull and often tough. As he is a Muslim, Fadi does not eat pork.

The staff always provide another alternative when pork is on the menu but yesterday, when pork sausages were on the menu, the only alternative was fish - which Fadi has a strong aversion to and cannot eat without being ill.

When he said he couldn't eat the sausages or the fish, he was told by staff that he would have to have a Vegemite sandwich.

Fadi's son is shocked - this is hardly enough for the main meal of the day!

Fadi's son encourages his father to complain, but Fadi says he doesn't want to cause trouble, he is new and is still trying to settle in.

Fadi's son decides to put in a formal complaint about the food that is served to his father.

The manager explains that there are many different nationalities, and it is impossible for every cultural food requirement to be catered for all the time. However, the kitchen is keen to help out as much as they can so long as it is within their tight budget, therefore this is why Fadi was given a sandwich.

1. As a client, what rights does Fadi have that are being breached?

2. What process should be undertaken to investigate this complaint in a culturally sensitive manner?

3. Suggest three strategies that might solve Fadi's problem.

Case Study 3 - Joan

Joan is a new, Aboriginal carer at Elise's service. Lately Joan has had a couple of days off work and has also had a few days where she has started work later than others in her team.

Hani, another carer who is also one of Elise's good friends, begins to gossip about Joan at lunchtime. She says that Joan excludes herself because she is always so quiet and avoids eye contact with people. Hani doesn't like the fact that Joan is new but gets special treatment - no one else comes in late and takes time off, especially in their first two months at a new job!

Elise is not impressed by Hani's behaviour and decides to remove herself from the lunch group. She instead begins to spend some of her lunchtimes with Joan and some different carers. She learns that Joan takes time off to help with the care of one of her Aunties, who is very ill.

One afternoon Joan approaches Elise and tells her that she will be taking time off work due to Sorry Business. Elise is not sure what this means but does not want to appear ignorant and gives Joan her best wishes - she assumes it must not be good news due to the word 'sorry'. Joan says that their supervisor is very compassionate and she is lucky to work for a company that respects her cultural traditions, but says that some of the staff make her feel shame.

The next day, Hani is talking negatively about Joan again. Elise has had enough, she decides to research Aboriginal culture so she educate Hani before she gets herself into trouble.

1.Using your knowledge of Aboriginal culture, explain:

• Why Hani's opinion of Joan's approach to communication is incorrect and inappropriate

• Why Joan was caring for her Auntie.

• Sorry Business and how Joan, her family and community would mourn.

• Why Joan's community has a tradition to not say the name of the deceased for some time.

2.What impact is Hani's behaviour having on Joan? What did Joan mean about feelings of shame?

3.How do you think that Elise is contributing to a culturally safe and culturally competent workplace?

4.How should the workplace support Joan in terms of her absences?

Research each of the three cultures below and the one of your choice.

1. What things are of specific importance in these cultures that would need to be considered when providing health and community services? List at least four items of importance for each culture listed.Consider in your response spirituality and/or religion and cultural customs. (100- 200 words)

• Italian culture.
• Vietnamese culture.
• Sudanese culture.
• 2. A culture of your choice that is different to your own. Now research Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander culture and answer the following questions. (300-400 words)
• Which culture did you research? (Tick the appropriate box.)
• Aboriginal culture Torres Strait Islander culture
• Research the social, political and economic issues that are affecting Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peopleand write at least two paragraphs about each issue you identify and its impact.
• Research at least three important cultural customs for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people and write at least one paragraph about each. For example, you may like to research Men's and Women's Business, Dreaming, smoking ceremonies, the importance of kinship and so on.
• Consider how Western society and culture has affected Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanderpeople. Provide five examples.
• Identify two issues that impact Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people and describe what programs and projects have been developed by the Australian government or other stakeholder groups to address the issues. You may like to use the table format below to present your responses.

Issues	Programs and projects developed to address issues
Issue 1:
Issue 2:

• What are four issues that Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people face when engaging with health and community services?

3. Did your perspective or opinion of each of these cultural groups change due to the information you learned during this research task? If yes, explain what you learned and how your perspective has changed. If no, explain why you feel your perspective has remained the same.

4. Explain how your learnings will help you appreciate and value diversity in your day-to-day work activities (if you are not currently employed, consider how you will demonstrate this once you are working).

QUESTION 5.

Terese a new client in a full-time care facility who requires more care than her family is able to provide. Terese's family have historically been able to take her to all her appointments, however due to an increase in the number of appointments required for Terese, they are no longer able to provide her with the level of support she needs.

Terese speaks only a limited amount of English but can mostly understand what

is being said to her. Her family has always communicated to others for her, and

have previously taken her to all doctor appointments, specialist appointments

and evenbanking and other daily needs.

a. Terese's family has given permission that the services of an interpreter can be used. Use the Internet to locate an interpreting/translation services provider in your own local area. (You can choose Terese's cultural background to locate specific translation/interpretation services.) Write down their name, address and telephone number.

6. Intersex

Provide a definition of 'intersex'.