Reference no: EM132504920 , Length: word count:2000

HUMS 1051 Aboriginal Australians: Culture and Colonisation - University of South Australia

Reflective Journal And Critical Analysis

Learning Outcome

Consider your knowledge of "culture" in general (that being your own culture and others), and your knowledge and perception of Aboriginal Australians. Aboriginal students can answer in context.

This is a time to look more broadly at the course Learning Outcomes (please see below) and consider your own personal needs in terms of knowledge you would like to acquire and develop throughout the course. It is important to be aware of your own attitudes, beliefs and behaviors in cross-cultural settings.

Learning Objectives

On completion of this course, students should be able to:
• Summarise the central characteristics of classical Australian Aboriginal cultures and the implications for understanding of identity and self-concept
• Describe the interaction between western and Aboriginal cultures during the post-invasion period
• Understand the psychological impact of colonisation on Aboriginal cultures and people within human rights and social justice frameworks
• Summarise the major demographic, cultural and social characteristics of contemporary Aboriginal societies and cultures and recognise the diversity of these societies
• Demonstrate familiarity with some of the major issues and strategies relevant to working effectively in Aboriginal contexts
• Reflect on the implications of this content for professional practice.

Comprehension of Reading

Reading by

Clay, R.A. (2002) "Helping a Stolen Generation" in Monitor on Psychology

Question 1) According to Clay's article, what were the (a) key THREE issues that contributed to psychologists' growing interest in Aboriginal Australians and psychology? Choose ONE(b)and discuss in detail.

Question 2) Why did psychologists seemingly "get absolutely nowhere" when attempting to treat an Aboriginal person in practice?

Question 3) What does psychologist, Patricia Dudgeon say non-Aboriginal psychologists should do in order to work effectively with Aboriginal Australians?

Cultural Competence
Start this section by analyzing:

Reading by

Weaver, H. (1999)

"Indigenous People and the Social Work Profession: Defining Culturally Competent Services"

Consider this article in the context of Australia and the psychology profession and respond to the following questions:

Question 4) Three areas of competence were identified for a practitioner to develop, in order to become ‘culturally competent' working with Aboriginal people?

Name the three key elements (a) then - Choose one of these (b) and discuss in detail :

Question 5) Summarise in your own words, the concept of ‘cultural competence' as it relates to the profession of psychology:

Question 6) Can you identify what your areas of development may be in order to become a culturally competent practitioner?

Historical Overview: Colonisation& Stolen Generations

Question 7) Historical knowledge about Aboriginal and Australian history has been presented.

How relevant is this knowledge to you as a psychology student and you as a future practitioner? Justify your answer.

Dimensions of Racism

The Required Readings (other literature) and the Lecture and Tutorial content ask us to examine the many dimensions of Racism and notions of White Privilege, and Power.

The Tutorials allowed us to apply the theories to practice and to make the links between the concepts and their relevance to working in Indigenous Australian contexts.

Reflections on the Required Readings - Understanding Terms & Concepts

Start this section by analysing:
Consider these Required Readings and respond to the following questions:

Pedersen, A. et.al. Attitudes Towards Indigenous Australians and Asylum Seekers: The role of false beliefs and other social-psychological variables, Australian Psychologist, 2005. 40 (3): pp. 170-178
Pettman, J. (1986) What is Racism? In Anti-Racism: A Handbook for Adult Educators
Davidson, Sanson and Gridley (2000) ‘Australian Psychology and Australia's Indigenous People: Existing and Emerging Narratives'

Question 8) Summarise the key messages you identified from the reading by Pedersen, et.al. (2005). Also feel free to use further research ( such as other readings) to support your findings or to show your critical analysis:

Question 9) In ‘Australian Psychology and Australia's Indigenous People: Existing and Emerging Narratives'(2000) Davidson, Sanson And Gridley, "argue that a socially responsible psychology is one that engages in self-reflection on its biases and prejudices, methodologies, and systems of ethics". Why do you think this is important? Discuss using the reading as well as your critical self-reflections.

Power & Privilege

Exploring Power and White Privilege

White Privilege has been introduced to you in order to identify and establish a position from which dominant cultures view the Dimensions of Racism and can contribute more specifically to Institutional Racism.

Start this section by analysing these following readings:

McIntosh, P. White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack, Independent School, 1990, 49(2): pp. 31 - 37

Radermacher, H. ‘I'm White! Oh I see! An International student perspective on national curriculum guidelines for Indigenous issues in psychology', Australian Community Psychologist, 2006, 18(1): pp. 33 - 39
Tannoch-Bland, J. ‘Identifying White Race Privilege', In ‘Bringing Australia Together: the structure and experience of racism in Australia', Foundation for Aboriginal and Islander Research Action, Qld, 1998: pp. 33 - 38.

Also draw upon your reflections of Tutorial Activities

Question 10) In your own words, please write up a Definition Statement of White Privilege, as you have come to understand it:

Question 11) Provide examples of how White Privilege is applied, and can become evident, in some everyday contexts and environments in Australia? How might you have experienced this personally or through your observations?
a) Your Workplace or in your personal relationships
b) Policies & Practices or community attitudes

Question 12) Write a 500 word Reflective Statement surrounding your exploration of Racism, Power, Privilege and related Concepts. You can include how this will affect YOU as a future psychologist.

Consider what you might need to achieve/learn beyond your time in this course in relation to working effectively in cross-cultural contexts.

Use the following dot points to help frame your responses/summary:
• What did you engage easily with in the course so far? Why?

• What has challenged you the most in the course? Why?

• What do you think you need to do, or would benefit from, in order to further comprehend concepts and theory? For example, further research, reading, talking to peers, etc.

• Was White Privilege easy to define in your own context and in the context of the profession?
• If not, why?
• How did these concepts and the discussion challenge your thinking?
• Examine and discuss any clarity, and/or discomfort you may have experienced with the concepts and literature
• What conclusions you have drawn at this point in your learning?

Attachment:- RJ and Critical Analysis.rar