EDUCATING FOR CULTURAL COMPETENCE: THE TRANSFORMATION OF AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITY LEARNING AND TEACHING FOR THE PROFESSIONS

Australian universities have been educating professionals for well over a century. The education provided by Universities has shaped the thinking and practices of generations of professionals who have played a significant role in structuring relationships between Indigenous Australians and the broader society, including advising colonial and contemporary governments, authorities and professional bodies on policy and practice, constructing and legitimating societal values and attitudes, and providing professional services to Indigenous peoples. In general, the training provided to professionals has not equipped them with the necessary skills and knowledges to work effectively in Indigenous contexts.

This presentation outlines the National Best Practice Framework for Indigenous Cultural Competency in Australian Universities and its potential to transform the nature of the education provided to professionals in Australia through the incorporation of Indigenous Australian content into university awards. It discusses how the inclusion of Indigenous content into professional programs has the power to change the nature of Australian society and the quality of service provision provided to Indigenous Australians. The presentation will include an overview of the cultural competence pedagogical framework for the incorporation of Indigenous Australian content into undergraduate awards. The presentation highlights how the adoption of this framework allows the higher education sector of Australia to become significant agents for social change and ethical practice in contemporary Australian society.