SOAD9213 Social Work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People

Learning Outcomes to be Assessed

On successful completion of this topic students should be able to:

1. Critically reflect on the use of a narrative approach when interviewing a client;
2. Recognise and describe the significance of colonial history on current social policies and practices in Australia that involve Indigenous people;
3. Critically reflect on the potential implications of white privilege and Indigenous oppression for contemporary practice;
4. Understand how to work in a culturally safe manner using a social justice perspective when working with Indigenous clients, families and communities, taking account of their emotional and social wellbeing.

Purpose

The purpose of this assessment item is to have you think about all that you  have learned with the benefit of hindsight. Hindsight is the understanding of an event or situation that we only gain after it has unfolded. A critical reflection is more than a personal reflection. A critical reflection includes engagement with the literature. Consider the questions listed below in Task Overview and respond appropriately. Present your response under five headings or sections associated with each of the first five tasks below. Include comments from the literature in each of the five sections as you critically examine your own understanding. Remember that you only have 2000 words so keep your comments concise and ensure that you respond to each component.

Task Overview

Critically reflect upon your narrative interview answer the following sections. Use the literature to answer each section and add in-text references throughout.

1. Discuss your understanding of the narrative approach and also your engagement with some of the techniques and practices associated with the narrative approach, for example externalising, re- authoring and deep listening. Identify some of the gaps which you recognised in your practice of the narrative approach. Provide examples from your interview to explain this.

1. Discuss and define other social work theories, skills and perspectives that you used in your narrative interview. Include your use of non-verbal behaviours. Comment on other theories, skills and perspectives that you think could have been helpful. Provide examples from your interview to explain this.
2. Using appropriate literature, critically analyse yourself and your engagement with the client during the interview. Clearly identify the challenges and what you would do differently next time.
3. From the literature, explain your understanding of Australia’s history of colonisation and its influence upon social work practice with Aboriginal people today, for example, white privilege, power imbalances and cultural safety and responsiveness.
4. Clearly identify how your practice would change when working with Aboriginal peoples as a consequence of this intensive, for example in terms of cultural safety and responsiveness, addressing oppressive issues, using a human rights framework.