How Uluru Statement Impacted Ways of Knowing, Being and Doing
How it impacted Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing and the contemporary lived experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
A: The Uluru Statement of 2017 was prepared in the form of an invitation, which approached every Australian to join hands with them and work towards a better future of Australia (Wilson, 2014). It further strengthened the position of historical indigenous leaders who had contributed to create a better life for the Indigenous people. Moreover, they encouraged to form a First Australian Voice in the parliament, as the land was primarily theirs and was given to them by their ancestors (Thomas & Green, 2007). After years of constant debates between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians, the Uluru statement had reached a matter of constitutional recognition. It had promoted structural reform and prominent constitutional change to establish their position in the Parliament. This Voice had majorly impacted the structure which created policies for the indigenous community. This will make their mark on the contemporary Australian life as they will be empowered to have a say on the laws and policies which are established. It is recognized as a part of knowing and placing their position as a being in their nation (Delgado,1995). The statement is seen to have to major objectives. The first one will deal with the establishment of the First nations Voice and the second was Makarrata Commission.
The ideals and proposals were brought forward by the Indigenous political leaders and constitutional experts. This has helped the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to understand and gain knowledge about their political position and right to use their voice. The vast culturally diverse environment which is formed emphasizes on the purpose of knowing and educating people with such variety of knowledge. Considering the factor of being, Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders consider their land, language, identity, law, family and indigenous ceremony to be very personal and important(Green, 2019). These are the cultural aspects which define them and strengthen their factor of being. Their factor of being hugely depends on their key beliefs which will have to be respected in a diverse culture like Australia. It involves a complex set of different spiritual values which were traditionally formed by them. It resolves around the idea of self control, self reliance, kinship and friendship, interdependence, responsibility for others and respect for their land (Bennet & Gates, 2019)
The contemporary cultural dimension which exists in Australia is seen to be sealed with close cultural bonds and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander are seen to have their distinctive rights as Australia’s first peoples.
Discuss how this has shaped the interactions and relationships with the social work profession and how this informs contemporary social work practices with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
A: The contemporary social work practices deals with the implementation of updated contemporary theories based on current research and social work practices. These practices evaluate the advanced skills which are required to deal with individuals, families and other specific communities. Considering the AASW Code of Ethics and practice standards, the current and contemporary social work will dedicate to identify the principles that underpin ethical social work practices and determine the areas which require professional assistance (Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey: First Results, Australia, 2012-13 2013). The Uluru Statement (2017) had the agenda to bring all the Australians together for making the position of the First Nations stronger and prominent. This had created a relation with the social work profession informed the contemporary social work practices with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. As the agenda aims to develop the position of the indigenous people, the social workers play a significant role here to support them to create their existence and strengthen their purpose. The AASW or Australian Association of Social Workers has respectfully acknowledged the first Australians keeping in mind their glorious and tortuous history. Along with the never-ending impact of colonization, their current position in the contemporary world is highly respected by the AASW. They have taken the initiative to work together with aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social workers so that they can manage to gain their vision and perspective towards certain social occurrences. In the recent days, with the uprising of the Black Lives Matter protests and such anti-racial discussion, the social issues bothering the aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples had started to come to light (Coates & Hetherington, 2016). The Australian association started to consider the action of reconciliation to be very serious. This made them prepare various educative and informative platforms to let people learn about their history and their contemporary position. On further research it was found that several non-aboriginal social workers had developed and implemented skills which made the community open up about various experiences. They had attempted to apply the practice framework of listening and being still to value their perspective and reciprocate in a positive manner (Wilson, 2014).
The Impact on Contemporary Australian Life
As several Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social workers came together for the Uluru Statement, it had created a moment of solidarity and encouraged several non indigenous social workers to join their journey and agenda(Green, 2019). Several ethical codes and standards were prepared which showed the importance of this social historical movement. Such standards were set to respect their existence and educate the people. The contemporary social policies are also established around this. The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2013–2023 is a policy which is relevant to this historical event as it deals with the legal inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Islanders in the system of Australian Healthcare Plan. Considering the motive of the event, the healthcare policy is a way of treating the Aboriginal and Torres Islanders equal to the other citizens of Australia. The policy of NIAA’s have been designed to help the Aboriginal and Torres Islanders priorities community safety, effective land and water infrastructure, culture, agency and get assistance on occupational opportunity. Thus, it is relevant to the objective of the movement which deals with the social security of the Aboriginal and Torres Islanders in the Australian society.
You will utilize a culturally responsive framework and apply theoretical approaches (anti- oppressive and anti-racist) taught in this unit, in your discussion.
A: The framework which is relevant to be culturally responsive includes the complexities and experienced of the social workers and the aboriginal people which are acknowledged. As they are being put to a significantly disadvantaged position, the purpose and the importance of the Uluru Statement is seen to be even more relevant. As social workers, it is imperative to provide cultural support and value their diversity. It is required to think of the ultimate objective which involves ensuring the wellbeing of all individuals (Green, 2019).The IAHA which is the Indigenous allied health Australia is a culturally responsive framework which is relevant to two key practices like human rights and social justice. Thus social work practices can be generated from such a framework as it can enable the formation of new ideas develop the situation of the Aboriginal and Torres Islanders.
The AASW or Australian association of Social Workers Code of Ethics was established to instill the practice of being culturally responsive, safe and sensitive towards other communities (AASW, 2015). Thus, Greene has mentioned that to be culturally aware, individuals will have to know about indigenous knowledge and their history. They will have to be educated on their origination and their dynamic position in the Australian society. To make learning more appropriate and effective, researchers have mentioned that people should be informed about cultural knowledge and the role of diversity in their culture (Bennett, Zubrzycki & Bacon, 2011). The history of colonization and their struggle can help them to develop their ability to be sensitive. In this way they can learn to feel empowered and also empower other communities to value their culture. The IAHA , or Indigenous Allied Health Australia Cultural responsiveness framework, was established in the year 2015 to respond to the requirement for practical strategies to strengthen the ability of the individuals to provide a culturally safe and responsive care services (Indigenous Allied Health Australia 2015). Such requirements are made to meet the demands of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and provide them with high quality action oriented approach towards cultural safety. Thus their objective revolves around the Indigenous perspective which is Being, Knowing and Doing. The Uluru Statement deals with similar objective of calling the diverse population of Australia to come together and end the aspects of cultural ignorance. It has been instilled with the agenda to transform and incorporate knowledge which is a part of knowing, self knowledge and behavior which is being and action which indicates doing (Sakamoto, 2005).
Here, the theoretical approaches of anti racism and anti oppression can be implemented as the Uluru statement was formed to remove such social malpractices and opinions. The Critical Race Theory (CRT) is seen to be a theory which represents the civil rights of people in America. The anti-oppressive theory forms the backbone of this historical event where the statement was released include the Aboriginal and Torres Islanders in the Australian community .The imposing effects of white supremacy on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait islanders had started to affect the identity and the culture of the community as they were considered to be inferior and at times uncultured. Thus, the objective of removing such ideas pertaining to the oppressing and racist thought process, were encouraged to culturally save such communities.
References:
AASW. (2015) Preparing for culturally responsive and inclusive social work practice in Australia: Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Information Sheet. https://academic.oup.com/bjsw/article-abstract/48/3/808/3868132
Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey: First Results, Australia, 2012-13 (2013). Table 1.3 Psychological distress based on K5 (Kessler) and reflects them scoring in the high or very high range. https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:400903/s3308638phdthesis.pdf?dsi_version=4f1a9fe73859dbcf21c9d8271693cc87
Bennett, B., Zubrzycki, J., & Bacon, V. (2011). What do we know? The experiences of social workers working alongside Aboriginal people. Australian social work, 64(1), 20-37. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/0312407X.2010.511677
Bennett, B & Gates, T (2019) Teaching cultural humility for social workers serving LGBTQI Aboriginal communities in Australia, Social Work Education, 38:5, 604-617, DOI: 10.1080/02615479.2019.1588872 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02615479.2019.1588872
Coates, J., & Hetherington, T. (2016). Decolonizing social work. Routledge. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=pQgpDAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=Coates,+J.,+%26+Hetherington,+T.+(2016).+Decolonizing+social+work.+Routledge.&ots=TruqgcUBB1&sig=5exLiN31NeVcmTvlHZ3JLwFxv2s
Delgado, R. (Ed.). (1995). Critical race theory: The cutting edge. Philadelphia: Temple University Press. https://scholarship.law.ua.edu/fac_books/14/
Green, S. (2019). Social work and cultural support. Our voices: Aboriginal social work, 175-189. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=CMSHDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR1&dq=Green,+S.+(2019).+Social+work+and+cultural+support.+Our+voices:+Aboriginal+social+work,+175-189.&ots=4_7w6V5DPC&sig=fGB78UYltIsXdKjzENTrMtZwiVs
Indigenous Allied Health Australia (2015). Cultural Responsiveness Framework. https://iaha.com.au/wpcontent/uploads/2015/08/2015-IAHA-Cultural-ResponsivenessFramework-WEB.pdf
Sakamoto, I. (2005). Use of Critical Consciousness in Anti-Oppressive Social Work Practice: Disentangling Power Dynamics at Personal and Structural Levels. The British Journal of Social Work, (4), 435-452. https://academic.oup.com/bjsw/article-abstract/35/4/435/1716745
Thomas, R., & Green, J. (2007). A way of life: Indigenous perspectives on anti-oppressive living. First Peoples Child & Family Review, 14(1), 81-93. https://www.erudit.org/en/journals/fpcfr/1900-v1-n1-fpcfr05299/1069529ar/abstract/
Wilson, A. (2014). Addressing Uncomfortable Issues: Reflexivity as a Tool for Culturally Safe Practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health. Australian Journal of Indigenous Education, (2), 218-230. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/australian-journal-of-indigenous-education/article/addressing-uncomfortable-issues-reflexivity-as-a-tool-for-culturally-safe-practice-in-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-health/361EFC239359D129266EE39BA99D1B3A
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