Strategies for Working with Brad and Supporting ATSI Community: A Social Work Perspective

Questions/Task 

Part A:

1.    In working with Brad:
a.    Reflect on any social and cultural perspectives and biases that could potentially impact on the services provided to Brad. What strategies can you put in place to overcome these perspectives and biases? (200-300 words)
b.    Reflect on how limitations in your self- awareness and social awareness may impact on the service you provide Brad?  Identify how you can work with these limitations to ensure Brad receives the service that he needs. (200-300 words)
c.    What positive actions could you take to engage with Brad? (100-150 words)

2.    What advantages could an Indigenous caseworker have in working with Brad? (100-150 words)

3.    List two different organisations and explain how they can support Brad (and other ATSI people) in social and cultural aspects. (150-200 words)

4.    Why is it important for both you and Brad to understand the plight of the ATSI people in post colonised Australia? (150-200 words)

5.    How will understanding the plight of the ATSI people in post colonisation of Australia assist you in dealing with Brad’s feelings of being isolated? (150-200 words)

6.    List 3 ways you would provide opportunities for ATSI people to identify with their culture in your residential care. Explain how these opportunities would be of benefit. (100-150 words for each strategy)

7.    How can Wings improve their current service for Brad. Discuss (300 words for each):

a.    What has gone wrong

b.    Why has it gone wrong

c.    What needs to change

d.    How can it be changed

8.    What strategies could you implement into the service to assure clients that their culture had been considered in the delivery of services?

a.    List and describe 3 strategies (80-100 words /strategy)
b.    Identify and discuss 2 additional strategies that could be implemented to ensure cultural safety in the service for ATSI clients. (80-100 words /strategy)

9. Describe a strategies that could be implemented at the Wings service to evaluate each of the following: (80-100 words /strategy)

a.    Cultural safety
b.    Client participation
c.    Organisational outcomes.

10.    Identify the impacts a client could suffer from long term unemployment? (300-500 words)

Social and Cultural Perspectives that Impact Services Provided to Brad

When working with Brad, there are some positive objectives which must be kept in mind. It is vital to help him to manage his distress and emotions or to regain control of his own behavior. Brad must be encouraged for verbal communication so that it becomes easy to understand his thoughts and feelings. Efforts must also be made to develop a collaborative relationship with Brad. It is also important to be calm and polite with Brad and listen carefully to his thoughts and emotions. He must also be given the time to process as what has been said to him. If necessary it might be essential to ask him repeatedly the same question to gather information and get a thorough idea of his mindset. Moreover, it must also be ensured that Brad is supported by his friends, family and the society so that it becomes easy for him to quit those habits. Motivational interviewing can also help Brad to address his issues so that it becomes easy for the social worker to help me get rid of the problem (Hall et al. 2015).

The two organizations which will Brad and the ATSI people in the social and cultural aspects are discussed below:

The Redfern Foundation: Redfern Foundation helps the people of ATSI community to build their skills and create a positive sustainable infrastructure. This will help to promote the social, employment and educational opportunities among the people of these communities. Brad can also get employed through this organization and this will help me to get rid of this bad habits. Brad and the other people of the ATSI community will get a platform to exchange their thoughts and emotions and be self-sufficient (dovetail.org.au 2017).
New South Wales Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organizations (COAPA):  This organization fosters and supports economic, social and cultural well being of the ATSI people who are the residents of New South Wales. This organization will help Brad and the members of the ATSI community who are at the risk of being separated by their families and friends. Moreover, the organization will also provide counseling and support to the people to get rid of their suffering and distress (alsnswact.org.au 2017).

It is vital to understand the plight of the ATSI people in order to assist Brad’s feeling of being isolated. The people of the ATSI community were isolated from their family, community and nation. They were rendered homeless. But research indicated that these tribes emphasize on the interconnectedness between their families, communities and they showed concern about each other. They had no place to eat or sleep and were in intergenerational trauma. The state had enforced them for separation and this in turn has affected the ability of the ATSI people to be balanced in their mental and emotional state (education.vic.gov.au 2017). Similar was the case with Brad. He remained isolated and developed a criminal mental state. Moreover, there was unconcealed drug and alcohol misuse among the people of the ATSI community.