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Have you got your BlackCard yet? supplied by Mundanara Bayles What is Black Card course? This Black Card course is based on an Aboriginal Perspective developed by Aunty Lilla Watson and Aunty Mary Graham (pictured), two Aboriginal women who have been involved in Aboriginal education and Aboriginal community affairs over a long period of time. The underlying theme of the course is based on Aboriginal Terms of Reference. Of equal importance is the theme of colonialism, which is crucial to understanding the position of Aboriginal people aswell as nonAboriginal people in society today. The BlackCard will be valid for a two year period. Then after wards, the holder may be reassessed and issued for a further two years. The BlackCard Course and Modules would also suit individuals who wish to further their knowledge of Aboriginal Australians. Purpose of the BlackCard The BlackCard is a license for people to work with: Aboriginal people, individuals, communities, groups, organizations and sectors, in the capacity of the helping professions, legal advisors, technicians, teachers, human resource sectors. Issues that impact on Aboriginal people like housing, employment, training, education, health; Aboriginal specific issues like Native Title, Stolen Generations, Stolen Wages, Deaths in Custody; broader social issues like Cultural
Heritage, environment and climate change. All levels of Government – Federal, State and Local, nonGovernment bodies; Institutions; Statutory Bodies, Corporations, Companies and Industries including the Consultancy industry and in any employment capacity, paid or voluntary, in relation to Aboriginal matters, events and issues – such as political, economic and community development and planning. The BlackCard The BlackCard will be valid for a two-year period, after which the BlackCard Holder must be reassessed for their cultural competency skill levels and be re-issued a BlackCard for a further two-year period. The BlackCard is issued to one holder and must not be used by, or transferred to, any other person. The process for renewing or replacing the BlackCard and for registering a change of address
must be made through contacting The BlackCard Course on 07 3398 9921 or email: blackcardcourse@ bigpond.com. The BlackCard Holder Possession of a BlackCard does not permit the Holder to be a teacher of Aboriginal Culture or Knowledge, The BlackCard Holder must have the BlackCard in their possession when engaged in any of the above public/professional activities. The BlackCard Holder must be over 18 years of age. To be eligible for the BlackCard a person must have completed successfully the BlackCard Course* Outcomes of the BlackCard Course The Course will enable participants to understand the basis of Aboriginal cultures and the understanding and skills for communicating with Aboriginal clients, staff and people in general. Page 1
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It can improve both internal and external communications. Internal: Effective Course training encourages appropriate understanding, interpersonal skills and behaviours within an Aboriginal workforce or community and helps avoid: • Communication problems that can result in hostile and unproductive behaviours; • Misinterpretation of work procedures, leading to errors, frustration and low morale. • External: The particular Course training will help improve individual or team confidence, productivity and overall work/activity performance by increasing their knowledge of: • How to engage with Aboriginal individuals, groups and families who are not used to working with non-Aboriginal workers or who are hostile to nonIndigenous workers; • How to negotiate goals and outcomes with Aboriginal clients. Further benefits of the BlackCard Course are: • Understanding the diversity in Aboriginal Australia and that of your target groups (e.g. youth, aged etc); • Learning how to communicate with Aboriginal families or staff effectively and without risk of misunderstanding or misinterpretation; • Distinguishing the myths from the facts that could affect your ability to communicate in relation to Aboriginal communities; • Understanding the principles of culturally appropriate and user-friendly services; • Improving the flow of meetings, decisions and implementation of actions; • Improving the ability to Page 2
communicate and work effectively with colleagues from other cultures; • Reducing misunderstandings and subsequent costs and delay in support to families.
What will the BlackCard Course help me do? The Course will be particularly beneficial for non-Aboriginal staff working directly with or managing Aboriginal staff/groups, people who regularly travel to, or are in constant touch with, Aboriginal communities or those with line management responsibilities who are Aboriginal. The Course moves beyond cultural understanding into applications that address the following – how do we improve cultural engagement; mediation and conflict management; project management and community development; how to motivate and/or supervise culturally mixed groups of people that also include Aboriginal people. The Program is useful for: • Facilitating cultural discussion, dialogue and debate in a training and education setting; • Supporting and guiding non-Aboriginal individuals considering employment, promotion or work experience that involve people from different cultures and with different backgrounds and values; • Assisting students who may be accessing Aboriginal communities in order to ensure culturally respectful practice and appropriate representation of the Indigenous organization involved; • Providing an individual with information about his or her potential for crosscultural adaptability, and strengthening their reflective capacity taking into account
personal values, backgrounds and histories and the potential impact these can have on communities where they will work; • Providing an opportunity for self-appraisal and awareness of cross-cultural adaptability issues. • The knowledge obtained by participants taking part in this Program includes reflection on the following: • Can the individual adapt to new assignments and new cultures? • Is there sufficient tolerance and/or insight to deal with differences? • What aspects of their work or managerial style need to be modified to adapt to the organisation’s work norms. • If you are one of those people who: • Manage staff, work with colleagues or work for managers who are Indigenous; • Recognise that cross-cultural differences can lead to different behaviours and assumptions at work and that these can sometimes cause misunderstandings, conflict or delay; • Want to understand and respect cultural differences while still needing to get things done effectively; • Don’t have time to work out the secrets of cross cultural success through long trial and error; • Really want to do something practical to get the best outcomes from working with Indigenous colleagues; As a client, or an employee of another organization/department, work with an Indigenous stakeholder service. For more information about the BlackCard Course please send an email to blackcardcourse@bigpond. com.