Post on 31-Dec-2015
Teaching for Cultural Competence: Inclusion of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Perspectives in
Teaching Practices
Professor Lester-Irabinna RigneyDean Indigenous Education
Office of The Deputy Vice Chancellor & Vice President (Academic)
adelaide.edu.au
University of Adelaide 5
(Bradley Review of Australian Higher Education 2008, p. 32).
“Addressing access, success and retention problems for Indigenous students [and staff] is a matter of the highest priority…
To do this, higher education providers must not only address their learning needs but also recognise and act on issues such as the culture of the institution, the cultural competence of all staff – academic and professional – and the nature of the curriculum‟”
Objective
There is no one single definition of cultural competency
embed cultural competency at the institutional level so that they are encouraging and supportive
environments for Indigenous students and staff and produce well-rounded graduates with the skills
necessary for providing genuinely competent services to the Australian Indigenous community.
University of Adelaide 10
Why Cultural Competency
• 1967 First Aboriginal University graduate
• Indigenous student and students under 1%
• Population parity 2.2%
• Fix Social Disadvantage
University of Adelaide 11
Why Cultural Competency
• Values diversity
• Brings richness to learning for all
• Address Indigenous disadvantage & reconciliation “Close Gap”
• Graduate skills to work in diverse context
• Workplace team cohesion
• UoA Appeals more to diverse populations
• Improves quality measures
• Better competitive Position
• Meets Compliance obligation
• Higher Student Market Share
Professor Lester-Irabinna Rigney: Adelaide University 2012
How We Do It
Developing• Embed Uni wide Aboriginal
Engagement Strategy• Embed Cultural
Competency framework – Curricula and research
– students and staff
• Increase Aboriginal, LSES, 1st Generation, regional
• Student and staff Tracking• Horizontal and Vertical
strategy
Consolidating • First Year Student experience
efficiency• Regional Engagement
strategy• Increase Web footprint• Student Support and
Retention• Curriculum renewal• Pre-university, pathways and
access initiatives• Internal and external
communications
University of Adelaide 13
Cultural Competence
Cross, Bazron, Dennis, and Isaacs (1989).
Campinha-Bacote (1994)
Collins 2007
Ten Habits of Effective Teaching in Indigenous Education
1. Quality Community Engagement
2. Modern Inclusive Sophisticated Vocabularies
3. Built in Not Bolted on
4. Library/Resources/1980
5. Proactive LeadershipTraining & Development
1. Graduate Attributes Accountability Monitoring
2. Community Events
3. Inclusive pedagogy
4. Examine your own cultural teaching and ‘Normal’ assumptions
5. Establish a safe environment
Pedagogical Framework for Indigenous Cultural Competency
A pedagogical framework = Broad principles (not classroom actions) based on research to guide quality delivery of curriculum.
• Indigenous knowledges embedded in course • Quality and Accuracy of material taught• Model respectful professionals partnership• Strengthen quality of courses • Equity of outcomes
Websites
University of Sydney - Inclusive teaching references
http://www.itl.usyd.edu.au/projects/inclusiveteaching/indigenousinclusion.htm
Universities Australiahttp://www.universitiesaustralia.edu.au/page/policy---advocacy/indigenous-issues/cultural-competency/
http://www.indigenousculturalcompetency.edu.au/html/TeachLearn.html#TL_Nat