Burnett Respite Services Inc
Cultural Awareness Policy
Cultural Awareness Policy
This is a Controlled Document
Document Information and Revision History
Original Ratification
11th June 2011
Original Author/s
Peter Cullen
Revision History
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Burnett Respite Services Inc
Cultural Awareness Policy
Cultural Awareness
1.0
Cultural Awareness and Competence
1.1
Objectives of this policy
1.2
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To ensure all employees understand the meaning of Cultural Awareness and Cultural Competence.
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To ensure managers remain mindful of their responsibility to manage individual programs and thus the
organisation in a manner that takes account of the cultural differences within our workforce and the
community.
Responsibilities:
The Board of Management is responsible for:
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Monitoring and reviewing all organisational policies and procedures; and
Auditing compliance with policy provisions, record keeping and training.
The General Manager is responsible for:
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Providing advice and support to staff, service users and family/carers; and
Ensuring any incidents in relation to this policy are responded to with regard to this policy and the rights
of people with a disability.
All Staff are responsible for:
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1.3
Adhering to all policies and procedures of the organisation; and
Ensuring they are fully aware of and understand their obligations in relation to this policy.
Definitions:
Cultural Awareness:
Simply put, cultural awareness refers to the recognition that not all people are from the same cultural
background. It also refers to recognising people have different values, different behaviours and different
approaches to life.
Cultural Competence:
Cultural competence in the context of this organisation describes the organisation’s ability to provide
care to service users with diverse values, beliefs and behaviours, including tailoring delivery to meet
service user’s social, cultural, and linguistic needs.
Cultural Diversity:
Generally, the term Cultural Diversity refers to the cultural variety and cultural differences that exist in
the world, a society or an organisation. It also refers to inclusion of diverse people into a group or
organisation.
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Burnett Respite Services Inc
Cultural Awareness Policy
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1.4
1.6
Policy
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The cultural diversity of this organisation should be seen as a strength and an asset. The organisation
values diversity of opinions, perspectives and interests.
▪
Diversity is an essential characteristic of a vigorous and adaptive ecological, social and intellectual
system. It is from such diversity that creative and effective responses to new challenges can emerge.
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The organisation acknowledges its responsibility to provide employees with the support, services and
infrastructure necessary to meet the needs of a culturally diverse community. It is dedicated to
sustaining a diverse, harmonious, workplace committed to equity and merit as the fundamental
principles through which staff and service users are encouraged and assisted to reach their full
potential.
Principles
1.
We will provide effective arrangements and processes for affirming and promoting the value of cultural
diversity.
2.
We will formulate an implementation plan consistent with this Policy and establish clear accountability
for its implementation.
3.
We will encourage and facilitate the attainment of cultural awareness by all staff, whether through
formal training or other effective means, to embrace values, attitudes and practices.
4.
We will embed the appreciation of cultural diversity in program development and implementation.
5.
We will create opportunities for staff to study and work in a range of cultural settings.
6.
We will develop and disseminate relevant information in a format which is coherent, easily accessible
and appropriate to the needs of the whole community.
7.
We will inform our community of the principles in this Policy.
Further Information
Any employee who requires further information about this policy should contact any member
the Management Team.
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