download "Solid understandings of cultural security" review
Cultural security training (pre-service and in-service) is crucial to embedding Aboriginal worldviews in school bullying prevention and management guidelines that support the strengths and needs of Aboriginal students.
Cultural security training cannot be delivered as a ‘one-off’ induction. This type of training is most effective when it is presented as a series of sessions/activities over a period of time. It should also be followed up with hands-on curriculum redevelopment and unit writing. School administrators should ensure that annual professional development in this area is offered to all staff.
Determining the best approach for students at your school should be undertaken in discussions with Aboriginal staff and local Elders (Rising to the Challenge in Aboriginal Health by Creating Cultural Security (Coffin, 2007) and Application of Coffin’s (2007) cultural security model to bullying prevention and management in an education setting (Paki, no date)).
The reflection questions below link to the National Safe Schools Framework (NSSF) Key Element Three, ‘Provision of education and training’ (DEST, 2003).
Reflection questions for solid understandings of cultural security
- Are staff provided with professional development opportunities that:
- enhance their knowledge and ability to build solid relations among students and between themselves and their students?
- enhance their understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander worldviews and cultural protocols?
- help staff learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations locally and nationally?
- explain the social determinants of the health and education outcomes experienced by Aboriginal people in this community?
- Are Aboriginal students provided with educational opportunities that:
- enhance their knowledge and ability to build solid relations with non-Aboriginal students?
- develop skills for solid relationships and cooperative behaviour with students from different backgrounds?
- enable them to celebrate and teach other students about their worldviews and cultural protocols?
- allow them to identify solid role models in their local community who are strong in their culture and successful in their work (i.e. teacher, nurse, hairdresser)
- Are Aboriginal parents and carers provided with learning opportunities that:
- allow them to share Aboriginal worldviews?
- enhance their knowledge and understandings to help them to build solid relationships with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal staff?
- provide information or materials about the development of effective relationships and behaviour in their children?
- enable them to access community-based resources and information to support their role as parents?
