Cultural Safety

    Unit code: HFB1001 | Study level: Undergraduate
    Credit points
    12
    (Generally, 1 credit = 10 hours of classes and independent study.)
    Location
    St Albans
    Prerequisites
    N/A
    Overview
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    Overview

    The provision of culturally safe and respectful paramedic practice is dependent on acknowledgement of colonisation, systematic racism, and social, cultural, behavioural, and economic factors which impact individual and community health. This unit will introduce students to the capabilities required to deliver culturally safe health care that is accessible, responsive and free from racism, bigotry and other forms of discrimination. Students will learn to recognise the importance of self-determined decision-making, partnership and collaboration through self-reflective awareness of individual racism, students’ own biases, assumptions, stereotypes and prejudices. Using a strengths-based approach, students will learn and apply the five cultural capabilities of respect, communication, safety and quality, reflection and advocacy in the context of paramedic care. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health will be the primary focus of the unit, however cultural safety and cultural capability will be applied in several additional contexts including LGBTQIA+ safe care.

    Learning Outcomes

    On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

    1. Identify and explain key terms and definitions in the context of delivering culturally safe health care;
    2. Discuss the influence of one’s own cultural identity and the culture of the Australian health care system on perceptions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;
    3. Determine factors that can impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, families and communities having equal access to health services; and
    4. Apply the principles of culturally safe practice to the care of individuals, communities and populations that are socially and culturally marginalised.

    Assessment

    For Melbourne campuses

    In Assessment 1, students will work independently to prepare a cover letter for a fictional health practitioner role with an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community health service. To successfully complete Assessment 1, students will be required to demonstrate an understanding of their own cultural identity and that of the Australian health care system, and also demonstrate their understanding of the cultural capabilities required to deliver culturally safe care. In Assessment 2, students will work independently to complete two supervised tests that will comprise of lower-order, higher-order and problem solving (case-based) multiple-choice questions. In Assessment 3, students will work collaboratively in small groups to prepare a video presentation on how they would provide culturally safe care in a hypothetical scenario in the out-of-hospital setting.

    Assessment type: Assignment
    |
    Grade: 20%
    Cover letter - Fictional health practitioner role (500 words)
    Assessment type: Test
    |
    Grade: 40%
    Two supervised MCQ tests (20% each): Week 2 (45 mins): Week 4 (45 mins)
    Assessment type: Presentation
    |
    Grade: 40%
    Problem-based group presentation (10 mins)

    Required reading

    Yatdjuligin: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nursing and Midwifery Care
    Best, O., & Fredericks, B. (Eds.). (2021)| Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/9781108123754
    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples' Healthcare
    Biles, B., & Biles, O. (2020)| Victoria: Oxford University Press

    As part of a course

    This unit is studied as part of the following course(s):

    Bachelor of Paramedicine
    HBPD | Bachelor degree | Duration: 3 years

    Refer to the course page for information on how to apply for the course. VU takes care to ensure the accuracy of this unit information, but reserves the right to change or withdraw courses offered at any time. Please check that unit information is current with the Student Contact Centre.

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