Module Title: Diversity in Australia
Module Description: This module describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to research and share information about Australian Indigenous cultures and to recognize and interact productively with diversity in the workplace.
Module outcome: By the end of this module, students will be having gained a general understanding about Australian Indigenous cultures and recognize and interact productively with diversity in the workplace.
Task 1 - Research project
Undertake researchon Australian Indigenous cultures about the following topics
- art and music
- bushcraft, bush food and bush medicine
- contemporary Australian Indigenous life and culture
- cultural centres, galleries and natural sites
- dance
- history, pre- and post-European contact
- land ownership
- tools and implements
- traditional life and culture
- Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP)
- Aboriginal cultural protocols
Write a report about your findings. Your report must be typed up in report format and must include the following:
- Your findings about the above mentioned topics that you have researched
- All the sources of information that you have used for your research (References)
- Arial 10 formatted, including header and footer with your name and student number
Task 2 - Share information
Scenario
You are working for BBC Travel as a Diversity Manager. You just came back from Uluru where you were working on a research project to learn more about the Australian Indigenous cultures. You would like to share information on aspects of Australian Indigenous cultures with your customers (internal and external).
A) Hold an informal team meeting at the Cargo Bar or similar (Complete template 'Informal meeting agenda in the 'Forms and templates' folder BEFORE holding the actual meeting!)
B) Invite your customers to a special event at BBC Travel's premises (Write an invitation letter, use the template in the folder!)
Please observe the following guidelines when preparing for this special event:
- Arrange for an Indigenous interpreter if necessary (Arrange with management)
- Provide guidance to your customers on appropriate behaviour when interacting with Australian Indigenous people
- Make sure that you share clear and accurate information to enhance cultural awareness, ensuring acknowledgement of the diversity of cultures
- Make sure that you share information in a manner respectful of local community values and customs
- Make sure that you answer questions according to community wishes about what information can be shared
- Discuss with your customers on how to respond to culturally inappropriate behaviour to minimize the likelihood of causing offence
C) Write a blog on your company's website providing information on aspects of Australian Indigenous cultures.
Task 3 - Respond to Diversity
Scenario
You are working for a local TAFE called 'SMART TAFE' as a customer service officer. The organization has a number of buildings and operates on a large site.
You have to deal with a diverse range of people who often ask for course and enrolment information and many other general enquiries.
You refer any difficult questions to your supervisor.
You will be participating in a role-play where you will take on a role in a customer service team at a local TAFE providing students with course information, enrolment advice and various other general enquiries.
The focus of the role-play is to enable you to demonstrate appropriate responses towards a diverse range of people. One of three role-play scenarios will be undertaken.
You will be given the scenarios and role-play information in advance of the actual role-play assessment time. The three scenarios can be found in Appendix 2 of this document.
You must be able to demonstrate your ability to interact with clients and colleagues ensuring that they recognize, react and respond appropriately to individual differences.
You must be able to use appropriate verbal and non-verbal communication and ensure their behavior is consistent with legislative requirements.
Your task:
1. Read the scenario above!
2. Read the Appendix 2 scenarios below!
3. Review the 'SMART TAFE: Diversity, access and equity policy and procedures' (Appendix 1) business documents that follow, including:
a. access and equity policy and procedures
b. organizational chart
c. contacts list
4. Plan and write your likely responses to the three scenarios described in Appendix 2.
5. When you commence the role-play, you will assume the role of a front desk receptionist at SMART TAFE. Your assessor will be playing the role of one of the three people. You can use your planned responses as a guide, but should adjust these responses where necessary.
Task 4 (a) - Diversity in the workplace at SMART TAFE
Scenario
You currently work in a customer service team at a local TAFE providing students with course information, enrolment advice and various other general enquiries. The team is currently made up of four staff members:
Staff Member 1: Sue is a 53 year old female who has been working at the TAFE for the past six years. She knows everything to do with all available courses offered at the institution and has excellent customer service skills. She was born in Brisbane and has lived in Australia her whole life. Nine months ago she hurt her leg in a car accident and now must use a wheel chair to move around the offices and buildings.
Staff Member 2: Kumar is a 28 year old male who has been working at the TAFE for the past two years. Kumar was previously a student at this TAFE, and his strength is being able to empathize with many current and potential students and provide excellent enrolment and course advice. Kumar was born in Mumbai India and has lived in Australia for the past six years. He enjoys his job and has ambitions to be a manager.
Staff Member 3: Elaine is a 38 year old female who has been working at the TAFE for the past 11 years. She has worked in many different departments and enjoys working in the education system. She has built a rapport with almost every staff member in the entire TAFE and uses her knowledge and experience to provide excellent advice to both students and staff members. Elaine grew up in Beijing China and moved to Australia when she was 15 years old.
Staff Member 4: David is a 25 year old male who has been working at the TAFE for the past six months. He is an enthusiastic employee and is always the first one to put his hand up for tackling any difficult tasks. He is still relatively new on the job and is constantly trying to learn about the courses on offer and enrolment procedures. David was born in Bosnia Herzegovina and comes from an Islamic background. He has been living in Australia for the past two years and is still adapting to the language and culture.
Your TAFE customer service team would like to take a positive step in embracing a diverse culture in the workplace.
Sue, Kumar, Elaine and David have arranged a meeting to create five (5) values relating to diversity for their TAFE. They have decided to create these values according to the following guidelines:
- They should be able to be understood clearly by all employees including employees for whom English is a second language
- The diversity values must also list any relevant Act/s to which it refers
Your task: (Group work)
- Hold a team meeting (4 students) to create a set of values relating to diversity in the workplace
- Complete your group evaluation sheet (Use the templatein the 'Forms and templates' folder)
You must: Sit with your team so that you can all see each other. Each team member is required to take on the characteristics of one of the four SMART TAFE team members. As part of the SMART TAFE customer service team, you are required to complete the following:
1. Discuss the objective with your work team
2. Create a set of five (5) workplace diversity values for the SMART TAFE customer service team. These values should comply with legislation including:
a. Disability discrimination legislation
b. Human rights/equal opportunity legislation
c. Racial and sex discrimination legislation
Make sure that your set of five workplace diversity values
- Accurately interprets anti-discrimination legislation
- Is worded positively (For example, by using 'always' rather than 'never)
- Is worded in plain, easy to read English
PS: Students may complete the task using computers, graphics, hand drawings or handwriting.
The 'values statement' may be multilingual. It must only consist of five points. Reference materials may be used.
3. Individually complete the group evaluation sheet (See guidelines below)
Your group evaluation sheet must include:
At least three ways you encouraged others such as:
- Inviting input
- Praising
- Identifying skills
- Questioning
- Sharing
- Offering assistance
At least two skills you have identified in others such as:
- Speaking more than one language
- Graphic design/image maker
- Keyboard skills
- Clear communication
- Ability to analyze the task
At least one positive outcome of working as part of a diverse group such as:
- Increased productivity
- Increased number of perspectives provided
- Increased use of combined skills to achieve outcome
Use non-discriminatory language while participating in the group, interacting with others and in creating the set of values.
Address other participants in a respectful manner by using verbal and non-verbal communication without interrupting.
Task 4 (b) - Value of diversity
Your tasks: (Group work/Research activity)
a) Explain and discuss the value of diversity to the economy and society in terms of:
- Workforce development
- Australia's place in the global economy
- Innovation
- Social justice
b) How can you make sure that your relations with customers and clients demonstrate that diversity is valued by SMART TAFE?
Task 5 - Field visit
Scenario A (Preferred option)
You have recently been employed as a trainee HR Consultant at Bridge Business College. BBC prides itself on having a diverse workforce and your role will require you to have in-depth knowledge about workforce diversity.
You are required to attend a diversity workshop at the Muru Mittigar Aboriginal Cultural and Education Centre to enable you to have a better understanding of Aboriginal Culture.
Please read the information below and follow the instructions given by your trainer.
The Muru Mittigar Aboriginal Cultural and Education Centre (Muru Mittigar) seeks to create a better understanding of Aboriginal culture in the wider community; create new jobs; develop workplace skills training and increase sustained employment opportunities for Indigenous Australians where the organisation operates.Muru Mittigar's vision is to operate as an exemplary, commercially sustainable Aboriginal-owned social enterprise, making a significant, measurable and lasting difference in advancing Aboriginal culture (in particular Darug culture). The organisation does this by expanding Aboriginal contracting and consulting services through procurement in market-driven services, providing authentic education and tourism products and programs and, investment in well-being and financial counselling services to the Aboriginal community.Muru Mittigar strives to improving the economic and social capacity of all Aboriginal people to support them, and empowering their meaningful participation in their role as traditional custodians of Country.
Scenario B (Contingency option ONE)
You have recently been employed as a trainee HR Consultant at Bridge Business College. BBC prides itself on having a diverse workforce and your role will require you to have in-depth knowledge about workforce diversity.
You are required to visit the Australian Museum to attend an information session that introduces you to the lifestyle of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples prior to European contact.
Please read the information below and follow the instructions given by your trainer.
The unique learning space offers students the opportunity to handle real artefacts and explore aspects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. Students will try their hand at cave painting, play a didgeridoo, grind seeds and learn how to use a fire stick. The session begins with an introduction by a Museum Education Officer.
Scenario C (Contingency option TWO)
You have recently been employed as a trainee HR Consultant at Bridge Business College. BBC prides itself on having a diverse workforce and your role will require you to have in-depth knowledge about workforce diversity.
You are required to visit the State Library of New South Wales to conduct research about Aboriginal culture in Australia.
Please read the information below and follow the instructions given by your trainer.
Attachment:- Assignment Files.rar