Aboriginal Australians and the Human Services

This course will further develop students' understanding of the knowledge, values and skills required to work effectively as human service/social work professionals in Indigenous Australian contexts, which is culturally accountable to Indigenous Australian peoples and communities. The course will provide students with a foundation on which to consider contemporary issues facing human service professions in renegotiating its working relationship with Indigenous people. Such issues include racism and the implications for practice, positive effects of cultural traditions to family, values, roles and parenting, power and powerlessness, governance, critical analysis of privilege and whiteness, diversity of policies and legislation governing Indigenous Australian peoples and the ongoing effects, Indigenous perspectives on historical and contemporary human service policy and practice reconciliation. It aims to provide an opportunity for new beginnings to commence in welfare and social services’ commitment and accountability to justice and equity for Indigenous people.