NATSICC Cross Cultural Competency in a Catholic Context
for CRA members
Catholic Religious Australia has partnered with the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC), to launch an eCourse created by NATSICC, called the Cross Cultural Competency in a Catholic Context for CRA members.
What is Cultural Competency?
At its heart, cultural competency is learning about acknowledging and valuing the diversity and gifts that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures bring to Australia. On a practical level, cultural competence is the ability to work effectively alongside Australia's First Peoples and to make respectful, informed and appropriate decisions across cultural boundaries.
This is an introductory course with a number of links to videos and further reading provided throughout the course, which are intended to enhance learning and understanding.
There is no better way to understand Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People than through personal interaction – taking time to listen to their stories. Your engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People is the natural progression on your journey.
What does the Course cover?
A balanced mix of historical information combined with the impact that colonisation had on First Nations Peoples, the course contains 4 core sections:
1. Our First Nations Peoples
2. Understanding our history
3. First Nations culture
4. Practice Tips
There is an assessment at the end of each section.
Course Benefits
Completing the course offers many benefits; participants will:
Gain valuable insights into the deep spirituality and kinship/family ties that are at the heart of relational interaction;
Learn about the respective and individual history and cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples;
Discover how the pain and loss of land, family and dignity have left lingering impacts that, in some cases, has led to a trans-generational loss of identity;
Understand how the actions of the past and present constantly influence Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples respectively and see some links between influences and their effects.
Learn how you can apply your knowledge and understanding to pastoral ministry for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Aboriginal Australians passing the knowledge to newer generations. Source: iStock
First peoples of Australia, Queensland, Australia, 1890. Source iStock.
Aboriginal elder places eucalyptus leaves on fire for smoking ceremony. Source: iStock
Who is this course for?
Anyone and everyone who is part of, or works for a Religious Institute or Society of Apostolic Life, which includes individual congregational members, lay staff and volunteers. It is particularly useful and important for anyone working in ministries with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Course Fee
NATSICC has worked hard to make the course as affordable for as many people as possible, and to encourage Catholic organisations to provide this important training to their employees and volunteers.
Education is key to fostering reconciliation and forms a major goal of the NATSICC.
1 - 150 users : $20p/p register as an individual, via the online store; or
151+ users: $10p/p, bulk registrations from Religious Institutes should be emailed to: secretariat@catholicreligious.org.au.
Enquiries: 02 9557 2695
The course is suitable for individual congregational members.
The course is suitable for employees and volunteers of Religious Institutes and Societies of Apostolic Life.
How long does it take to complete the Course?
The course is made up of multiple modules, which you can complete at your own pace, either in a single sitting or section-by-section, as your schedule allows.
Set aside 1 hour for the core learnings - much longer if you wish to delve deeper into the additional resources at the end of each section.
Your progress will be automatically saved after each session and you can pick up where you left off.
Student holding laptop she designed and painted herself. Source: iStock
Involvement of local Traditional Custodians
As mentioned above, the course is the first step on a journey of learning. It is a universal overview of Australia's First People and is not specific to any Language Group. First Nations Culture is a rich tapestry that stretches across Australia. Each language group is unique and holds its own knowledge, belief and cultural systems. NATSICC strongly suggests that the course is complimented by engagement with your local Traditional Custodians.