Reflecting on Diversity
Reflecting on Diversity
Item 1 of 9
This task requires you to reflect on your perspectives, biases, awareness, and misunderstandings that you have encountered in the workplace.
Specifically, you are required to reflect on:
Your own social and cultural perspectives and biases and how they affect your work. This requires you to:
Identify your social perspectives
Identify your cultural perspectives
Identify your social biases
Identify your cultural biases
Improving your awareness. This requires you to:
Identify a way to improve your self-awareness
Identify a way to improve your social awareness
Misunderstandings and other difficulties. This requires you to:
Identify issues that cause misunderstandings and difficulties
Explain the impact of social and cultural diversity in the identified issues
Read the instructions carefully before proceeding.
Steps to take:
Locate the Reflective Journal on the following pages.
The Reflective Journal outlines critical reflection points organised into Reflective Journal Entries which you are required to complete as part of this assessment
Review the instructions here and the reflection points required in these Reflective Journal Entries so you can prepare for this task.
Complete each entry in the Reflective Journal. To complete each entry:
Review and follow the instructions provided in the entry.
Record the required responses in the spaces provided in the journal entry.
Item 2 of 9
Reflective Journal 1
Your social perspectives How it affects your work
Your cultural perspectives How it affects your work
Your social biases How it affects your work
Your cultural biases How it affects your work
Journal Instructions
Item 3 of 9
Steps to take:
1. Identify one limitation in the self.
The limitation you identify here must be related to working with diverse people such as speaking your offensive thoughts out loud.
2. Identify one limitation of social awareness.
3. Identify one way to improve your self-awareness.
The improvement you identify here must be related to working with diverse people such as speaking my mind but choosing my words carefully, so I do not offend anyone.
4. Identify one way to improve social awareness.
Item 4 of 9
Reflective Journal 2
One limitation in self One way to improve self-awareness
One limitation of social awareness One way to improve social awareness
Journal Instructions
Item 5 of 9
Steps to take:
Recall two misunderstandings that you encountered in the workplace. Record them below, and for each: Explain how social diversity contributed to the misunderstanding and explain how cultural diversity contributed to the misunderstanding.
Recall two difficulties that you encountered in the workplace. Record them below and for each: Explain how social diversity contributed to this difficulty and explain how cultural diversity contributed to this difficulty.
Identify two other social and cultural diversity issues that could potentially cause misunderstandings and other difficulties.
Item 6 of 9
Reflective Jornal 3
Miscommunication 1
Misunderstanding you encountered
How did social diversity contribute to the misunderstanding?
How did cultural diversity contribute to the misunderstanding?
Item 7 of 9
Miscommunication 2
Misunderstanding you encountered
How did social diversity contribute to the misunderstanding?
How did cultural diversity contribute to the misunderstanding?
Item 8 of 9
Difficulty 1
Difficulty you encountered
How did social diversity contribute to the difficulty?
How did cultural diversity contribute to the difficulty?
Item 9 of 9
Difficulty 2
Difficulty you encountered
How did social diversity contribute to the difficulty?
How did cultural diversity contribute to the difficulty?
Item 3 of 27
In your own words, give two definitions of diversity in the workplace setting and provide two concepts related to diversity.
Item 4 of 27
Research about your own culture (e.g., Australian, Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander, British, etc.).
Specify your culture in the space provided.
Provide one example of each of the following aspects of your culture.
Community attitude Language Policy Structure
Item 5 of 27
Explain how each of these aspects (discussed in the previous question) of your culture impacts the two types of persons described in the table below.
Aspects of your culture Impact on different people Impact on different people
Fei Hong is an immigrant from Hong Kong. She has been in Queensland for less than two months and has had difficulty speaking English. She is seeking employment. Elsa is an Australian professional who has started developing degenerative hearing at her current age of 19, she is seeking employment.
Community Attitude
Community attitude refers to the tendency of a community to respond positively or negatively towards another group of people.
Language
E.g., English, Italian, Chinese
Policy
This may involve laws, actions, programs, and agreements (e.g., the Racial Discrimination Act 1975). The policy should be relevant to your state/territory.
Structure
A cultural structure involves an organised set of social institutions and patterns of relationships that together compose their culture (social structure, government structure).
Item 6 of 27
Complete the table below by answering the following:
Identify two features of diversity in Australia (e.g., age, ethnicity, gender, disability, etc.).
Describe the impact of each of the features identified in the following areas of work and life:
Political
Social
Economic
Cultural
Responses must be in the context of a workplace setting.
Feature of diversity
Political Social Economic Cultural
Feature of diversity
Political Social Economic Cultural
Item 7 of 27
Read each of the scenarios below. Identify which feature of diversity is being discriminated against in the following situations.
Choose from the following options:
Disability
Race
Sex
Age
Write your answer in the space provided below.
Feature of diversity Situation
Kiah is from an Aboriginal family. Though she is energetic at home with her family, Kiah is excluded from social conversations in the Early Years Learning centre for her skin colour and ancestry. Ashamed and bullied, she frequently excuses herself from the centres outings and activities.
Bob is transitioning from being female to being male. His coworkers refuse to consider him male and still force him to come to work in the female uniform.
Avril is 59 years old and has completed her training as a massage therapist. The wellness centre, however, rejected her application, stating that she is too old and will be a liability to the company.
Ash was just hired in the local retail store downtown. He always tries to mingle with his co-workers but cannot make a connection because of his Downs syndrome. He is usually alone.
Item 8 of 27
Review the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
You can access the document here.
Based on the UDHR, identify at least three rights included in the Act. Specify the Article where it can be found (e.g., Article 17: People have the right to own things). The rights identified must be related to the issue of diversity in the workplace.
Item 9 of 27
Consider the consequences of breaches of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
Read the following scenarios.
Identify which article of the UDHR and its corresponding right the specific scenario violates.
Scenario Corresponding UHDR article
Karen continuously imposes her religious belief on the staff.
Everyone has a right to be protected and treated equally by the law without discrimination of any kind.
Greg always comes to work with a coughing fit. He occasionally has spasms, but his supervisor told him just to walk it off.
Amira, a four-year-old child and a daughter of two Syrian refugees, is excluded from activities because of her nationality and difficulty in speaking English. Her parents frequently get remarks about returning to their original country.
Briefly explain what happens when there is a violation of the UDHR.
Item 10 of 27
Briefly explain the relationship between human rights and human needs.
Item 11 of 27
Below are five actions under the Australian Human Rights Framework. Briefly explain how each of these are applicable in the workplace.
Action How is it applicable in the workplace
Reaffirm
Educate
Engage
Protect
Respect
Item 12 of 27
The following five principles make up human rights-based approaches. Briefly explain how each of these principles is applicable in the workplace.
Principle How is it applicable in the workplace
Participation
Accountability
Non-discrimination and equality
Empowerment
Legality
Item 13 of 27
Briefly describe each of these instruments.
Explain how these instruments are applicable in a workplace setting.
Human Rights Instrument Description How is it applicable in the workplace
Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
Item 14 of 27
Research about the rights of the workers, employers, and clients and the action to take when these rights are being infringed in relation to your work profession. To complete this:
Specify your work role in the space provided.
Provide one right for:
Workers
Employers
Clients
Describe the action to take when the right is infringed for:
Workers
Employers
Clients
Your work role:
Rights Action to take when infringed
Workers
Employers
Clients
Item 15 of 27
Research about the responsibilities of the workers, employers, and clients and the action to take when these responsibilities are not being carried out in relation to your work profession. To complete this:
Specify your work role on the space provided.
Provide one responsibility and actions to take when said responsibility is not being carried out for:
Workers
Employers
Clients
Your work role:
Responsibilities Action to take when responsibilities are not carried out
Workers
Employers
Clients
Item 16 of 27
In your own words, briefly describe the characteristics of each area.
Diversity Characteristics
Culture
Race
Ethnicity
Disability
Religious Beliefs
Spiritual beliefs
Gender
Generational
Sexual Orientation
Sexual Identity
Item 17 of 27
Below are different genders, sexual orientations, and gender identities. Discuss each in your own words.
Gender, orientation, and identity Description
Lesbian
Gay
Bisexual
Heterosexual
Intersex
Transgender
Item 18 of 27
Identify two issues affecting Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander people in each of the following areas:
Area Issue 1 Issue 2
Politics
Society
Economics
Please complete the following.
1. Explain how culture can affect the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
2. Explain how culture affects their engagement with basic services (e.g., education, shelter, proper nutrition).
3. Explain how each of the two Western systems specified affects the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
4. Explain how each of these two systems also affected their engagement with basic services (i.e., education, shelter, proper nutrition).
1.
2.
3. Land ownership system
Impact of land ownership system on the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
4. Education system
Impact of the education system on the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Item 20 of 27
You have bee provided two examples of Westernised systems in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
Explain how each of the two Western structures affects the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Explain how these two structures also affected their engagement with basic services (e.g., education, shelter, proper nutrition).
i. Introduction of nuclear family structure
Impact of nuclear family structure on the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Impact of nuclear family structure on their engagement with basic services
i. Introduction of western religion
Impact of western religion on the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Impact of western religion on their engagement with basic services
Item 21 of 27
Two marginalised groups and two risk factors for each group have been provided.
Please identify one protective factor to manage and address each risk factor indicated.
Marginalised Group Risk Factor Protective Factor
Workers with physical disabilities Lack of physical activity
Lack of accessible healthcare
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children Experiencing discrimination
Separation from their ancestors land
Item 22 of 27
Two examples of marginalised groups in Australia have been provided. Identify their needs in the following for each marginalised group. Provide two examples.
Marginalised Group A: Workers with physical disabilities Example 1 Example 2
Physical issues
Physical needs
Mental issues
Mental needs
Emotional issues
Emotional needs
Marginalised Group B: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
Physical issues
Physical needs
Mental issues
Mental needs
Emotional issues
Emotional needs
Item 23 of 27
Based on the following scenarios identify one impact of each of the negative actions on the marginalised group.
Discrimination
June was recently employed. She recently migrated from Korea, and the other workers tease her behind her back due to her poor English skills and appearance.
Trauma
The health centre recently accommodated a former army medic who migrated to the country because of war. The medic, however, still show signs of trauma, with most of them having unexplained irritability and anger, loss of appetite, and problems focusing on daily activities and basic conversation.
Exclusion
Four indigenous people were recently hired to work in a fitness centre. They are friendly and well-trained with all the required fitness qualifications. The other trainers of the gym, however, discourage the members of the gym from training with them, calling them weak and inferior.
Violence
Danielle has started to show up to work wearing long clothing. When asked about it, it was found that she was hiding swelling and bruises all over her body. She refused to say anything about them.
Stigma
A newly opened health care facility created a separate room for children from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds, believing that these children learn slower when compared to non-Indigenous children.
Item 24 of 27
The following are resources that support individuals and organisations to embrace and respond to diversity:
Language Interpreters
Cultural Interpreters
Imagery
Explain how each resource can support your workplace to:
Embrace Diversity
Respond to Diversity
Resources How this resource can help organisations and individuals embrace diversity How this resource can help organisations and individuals respond to diversity
Language interpreters
Cultural interpreters
Imagery
Item 25 of 27
Briefly explain how the following cultural influences affect the diverse communities that make up Australian society.
Cultural influences How this cultural influence affects diverse communities that make up Australian society
Multiculturalism
Introduction of alcoholic beverages
Sports (e.g., cricket, rugby, basketball)
Item 26 of 27
Briefly discuss how the following changing practices affect the diverse communities that make up Australian society.
Cultural influences How this cultural influence affects diverse communities that make up Australian society
Pearling industry
Farming industry
Religion
Item 27 of 27
Identify the following in the workplace:
One diversity practice
Diversity practices can include eliminating sexism and ableism in the workplace, hiring a diverse pool of employees, and celebrating cultural differences (e.g., wear your national costume day).
One diversity experience
Diversity experiences can include shared meaningful experiences or friendships across different backgrounds, activities that showcase diversity, and discussions that promote everyones unique culture.
Briefly explain how each identified diversity practice and diversity experience affects the following in the workplace:
personal behaviour -
Interpersonal relationships -
Perception -
The social expectation of others-
Item 3 of 27
In your own words, give two definitions of diversity in the workplace setting and provide two concepts related to diversity.
Item 4 of 27
Research about your own culture (e.g., Australian, Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander, British, etc.).
Specify your culture in the space provided.
Provide one example of each of the following aspects of your culture.
Community attitude Language Policy Structure
Item 5 of 27
Explain how each of these aspects (discussed in the previous question) of your culture impacts the two types of persons described in the table below.
Aspects of your culture Impact on different people Impact on different people
Fei Hong is an immigrant from Hong Kong. She has been in Queensland for less than two months and has had difficulty speaking English. She is seeking employment. Elsa is an Australian professional who has started developing degenerative hearing at her current age of 19, she is seeking employment.
Community Attitude
Community attitude refers to the tendency of a community to respond positively or negatively towards another group of people.
Language
E.g., English, Italian, Chinese
Policy
This may involve laws, actions, programs, and agreements (e.g., the Racial Discrimination Act 1975). The policy should be relevant to your state/territory.
Structure
A cultural structure involves an organised set of social institutions and patterns of relationships that together compose their culture (social structure, government structure).
Item 6 of 27
Complete the table below by answering the following:
Identify two features of diversity in Australia (e.g., age, ethnicity, gender, disability, etc.).
Describe the impact of each of the features identified in the following areas of work and life:
Political
Social
Economic
Cultural
Responses must be in the context of a workplace setting.
Feature of diversity
Political Social Economic Cultural
Feature of diversity
Political Social Economic Cultural
Item 7 of 27
Read each of the scenarios below. Identify which feature of diversity is being discriminated against in the following situations.
Choose from the following options:
Disability
Race
Sex
Age
Write your answer in the space provided below.
Feature of diversity Situation
Kiah is from an Aboriginal family. Though she is energetic at home with her family, Kiah is excluded from social conversations in the Early Years Learning centre for her skin colour and ancestry. Ashamed and bullied, she frequently excuses herself from the centres outings and activities.
Bob is transitioning from being female to being male. His coworkers refuse to consider him male and still force him to come to work in the female uniform.
Avril is 59 years old and has completed her training as a massage therapist. The wellness centre, however, rejected her application, stating that she is too old and will be a liability to the company.
Ash was just hired in the local retail store downtown. He always tries to mingle with his co-workers but cannot make a connection because of his Downs syndrome. He is usually alone.
Item 8 of 27
Review the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
You can access the document here.
Based on the UDHR, identify at least three rights included in the Act. Specify the Article where it can be found (e.g., Article 17: People have the right to own things). The rights identified must be related to the issue of diversity in the workplace.
Item 9 of 27
Consider the consequences of breaches of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
Read the following scenarios.
Identify which article of the UDHR and its corresponding right the specific scenario violates.
Scenario Corresponding UHDR article
Karen continuously imposes her religious belief on the staff.
Everyone has a right to be protected and treated equally by the law without discrimination of any kind.
Greg always comes to work with a coughing fit. He occasionally has spasms, but his supervisor told him just to walk it off.
Amira, a four-year-old child and a daughter of two Syrian refugees, is excluded from activities because of her nationality and difficulty in speaking English. Her parents frequently get remarks about returning to their original country.
Briefly explain what happens when there is a violation of the UDHR.
Item 10 of 27
Briefly explain the relationship between human rights and human needs.
Item 11 of 27
Below are five actions under the Australian Human Rights Framework. Briefly explain how each of these are applicable in the workplace.
Action How is it applicable in the workplace
Reaffirm
Educate
Engage
Protect
Respect
Item 12 of 27
The following five principles make up human rights-based approaches. Briefly explain how each of these principles is applicable in the workplace.
Principle How is it applicable in the workplace
Participation
Accountability
Non-discrimination and equality
Empowerment
Legality
Item 13 of 27
Briefly describe each of these instruments.
Explain how these instruments are applicable in a workplace setting.
Human Rights Instrument Description How is it applicable in the workplace
Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
Item 14 of 27
Research about the rights of the workers, employers, and clients and the action to take when these rights are being infringed in relation to your work profession. To complete this:
Specify your work role in the space provided.
Provide one right for:
Workers
Employers
Clients
Describe the action to take when the right is infringed for:
Workers
Employers
Clients
Your work role:
Rights Action to take when infringed
Workers
Employers
Clients
Item 15 of 27
Research about the responsibilities of the workers, employers, and clients and the action to take when these responsibilities are not being carried out in relation to your work profession. To complete this:
Specify your work role on the space provided.
Provide one responsibility and actions to take when said responsibility is not being carried out for:
Workers
Employers
Clients
Your work role:
Responsibilities Action to take when responsibilities are not carried out
Workers
Employers
Clients
Item 16 of 27
In your own words, briefly describe the characteristics of each area.
Diversity Characteristics
Culture
Race
Ethnicity
Disability
Religious Beliefs
Spiritual beliefs
Gender
Generational
Sexual Orientation
Sexual Identity
Item 17 of 27
Below are different genders, sexual orientations, and gender identities. Discuss each in your own words.
Gender, orientation, and identity Description
Lesbian
Gay
Bisexual
Heterosexual
Intersex
Transgender
Item 18 of 27
Identify two issues affecting Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander people in each of the following areas:
Area Issue 1 Issue 2
Politics
Society
Economics
Please complete the following.
1. Explain how culture can affect the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
2. Explain how culture affects their engagement with basic services (e.g., education, shelter, proper nutrition).
3. Explain how each of the two Western systems specified affects the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
4. Explain how each of these two systems also affected their engagement with basic services (i.e., education, shelter, proper nutrition).
1.
2.
3. Land ownership system
Impact of land ownership system on the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
4. Education system
Impact of the education system on the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Item 20 of 27
You have bee provided two examples of Westernised systems in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
Explain how each of the two Western structures affects the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Explain how these two structures also affected their engagement with basic services (e.g., education, shelter, proper nutrition).
i. Introduction of nuclear family structure
Impact of nuclear family structure on the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Impact of nuclear family structure on their engagement with basic services
i. Introduction of western religion
Impact of western religion on the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Impact of western religion on their engagement with basic services
Item 21 of 27
Two marginalised groups and two risk factors for each group have been provided.
Please identify one protective factor to manage and address each risk factor indicated.
Marginalised Group Risk Factor Protective Factor
Workers with physical disabilities Lack of physical activity
Lack of accessible healthcare
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children Experiencing discrimination
Separation from their ancestors land
Item 22 of 27
Two examples of marginalised groups in Australia have been provided. Identify their needs in the following for each marginalised group. Provide two examples.
Marginalised Group A: Workers with physical disabilities Example 1 Example 2
Physical issues
Physical needs
Mental issues
Mental needs
Emotional issues
Emotional needs
Marginalised Group B: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
Physical issues
Physical needs
Mental issues
Mental needs
Emotional issues
Emotional needs
Item 23 of 27
Based on the following scenarios identify one impact of each of the negative actions on the marginalised group.
Discrimination
June was recently employed. She recently migrated from Korea, and the other workers tease her behind her back due to her poor English skills and appearance.
Trauma
The health centre recently accommodated a former army medic who migrated to the country because of war. The medic, however, still show signs of trauma, with most of them having unexplained irritability and anger, loss of appetite, and problems focusing on daily activities and basic conversation.
Exclusion
Four indigenous people were recently hired to work in a fitness centre. They are friendly and well-trained with all the required fitness qualifications. The other trainers of the gym, however, discourage the members of the gym from training with them, calling them weak and inferior.
Violence
Danielle has started to show up to work wearing long clothing. When asked about it, it was found that she was hiding swelling and bruises all over her body. She refused to say anything about them.
Stigma
A newly opened health care facility created a separate room for children from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds, believing that these children learn slower when compared to non-Indigenous children.
Item 24 of 27
The following are resources that support individuals and organisations to embrace and respond to diversity:
Language Interpreters
Cultural Interpreters
Imagery
Explain how each resource can support your workplace to:
Embrace Diversity
Respond to Diversity
Resources How this resource can help organisations and individuals embrace diversity How this resource can help organisations and individuals respond to diversity
Language interpreters
Cultural interpreters
Imagery
Item 25 of 27
Briefly explain how the following cultural influences affect the diverse communities that make up Australian society.
Cultural influences How this cultural influence affects diverse communities that make up Australian society
Multiculturalism
Introduction of alcoholic beverages
Sports (e.g., cricket, rugby, basketball)
Item 26 of 27
Briefly discuss how the following changing practices affect the diverse communities that make up Australian society.
Cultural influences How this cultural influence affects diverse communities that make up Australian society
Pearling industry
Farming industry
Religion
Item 27 of 27
Identify the following in the workplace:
One diversity practice
Diversity practices can include eliminating sexism and ableism in the workplace, hiring a diverse pool of employees, and celebrating cultural differences (e.g., wear your national costume day).
One diversity experience
Diversity experiences can include shared meaningful experiences or friendships across different backgrounds, activities that showcase diversity, and discussions that promote everyones unique culture.
Briefly explain how each identified diversity practice and diversity experience affects the following in the workplace:
personal behaviour -
Interpersonal relationships -
Perception -
The social expectation of others-
