Australia is a diverse and multicultural society with a range of social, cultural, religious and linguistic backgrounds.

People will have views, values and beliefs that are different from your own.

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As a support worker, you do not need detailed knowledge of every culture or religion; however, it is helpful to understand your client’s perspective and be able to support their choices based on their cultural and spiritual preferences.

This shows respect for the person’s beliefs and practices.

Recognise and respect individual differences

To support a person’s cultural, religious or spiritual practices, you need to recognise these differences. You need to appreciate the differences of the people with whom you work and understand that every person has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. 

Some community services organisations focus their services for particular cultural or ethnic groups. However, culturally and ethnically diverse people access all types of community services organisations. 

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Select each bar to expand and reveal further information on cultural and ethnic groups.

Social differences

Some of the ways people are different from each other comes from their family background, socio-economic status, gender, sexuality, age, disability, religion and ethnicity. These differences may in part be about lifestyle decisions but are usually based on fundamental differences and inequalities that people face in terms of income, health and life chances.

In any population group, there will be people who have different:

• family structures and roles, relationships and expectations for children
• connections to friends, levels of interaction, support from friends, and communication preferences, e.g. face-to-face or online 
• connections with their communities, e.g. sporting groups and social or religious groups, and with formal supports, e.g. community or government services
• opportunities to access health care, education, training and employment.

As a support worker, you will often be supporting a person or family who require assistance due to their social disadvantage. 

Cultural differences

Cultural identity is a person’s self-perception of belonging to a social group, such as a particular nationality, religion, ethnicity or social class.

A person’s culture and their cultural identity are made up of a number of elements, including their beliefs, values, customs and attitudes.

A person identifies with their culture through:

• language
• rituals, such as funerals, weddings or religious ceremonies
• art 
• objects. 

These cultural norms are passed on from one generation to the next.

Cultural differences extend beyond language and ethnicity. For example, some non-ethnic communities identify as communities with specific cultural differences, such as the LGBTQIA+ community. People who identify with a particular religion, regardless of their ethnic background, may also have specific cultural differences.

Considerations for Providing Culturally Sensitive Support

Factors to Consider

Family and gender roles Willingness to ask for assistance Willingness to share emotions or vulnerabilities Dress and adornment, including levels of modesty Ideas about personal space Attitudes towards children, the aged, or people with disabilities The role and importance of religion Dietary requirements and food rituals Recreational choices Need for privacy and confidentiality An appropriate environment for spiritual activities and other ceremonial observances Lifestyle preferences Study or employment expectations

Spiritual differences

‘Religion’ and ‘spirituality’ do not have the same meaning. 

Spirituality is an inner sense of something greater than oneself, which may be met through faith or religion. 

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Select the items on the image to reveal more information on how people may express their spirituality.

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Whether it is through religion or spirituality, a sense of peace can support a person’s health and wellbeing and help develop their ability to respond to life’s challenges. Many people find support and comfort in their religion or spirituality during difficult times or when there is trauma or upheaval in their lives. 

You should be able to recognise and ask for information to support a person’s spiritual needs. For example, arranging transport to a religious centre or supporting them to a room, by bringing in special objects or leaving space on the floor for prayer mats.

 Reflect

Reflect on the role of communicating information about the individual preferences of the people you support and the impact this can have on their wellbeing.

Record your thoughts in your notebook or digital device.

The impact of imposing values and attitudes of others

A person’s views and values may differ from your own or they may be very similar. A person’s values are what they think is important in life and will determine their priorities. They are beliefs that you feel strongly about and which are important to you. For example, you may value honesty. 

These values then extend into standards you may have about ways of behaving in different settings and with different people and what you consider to be right or wrong. 

A person’s attitude refers to the tendency they have to respond positively or negatively towards a situation or person or idea. 

Everyone has their own values and attitudes based on their culture, upbringing beliefs and experiences. As a support worker, it is important for you to recognise that the values and attitudes of the people you work with may be different from your own, and that these different values and attitudes are valid and important. 

Imposing your own values or attitudes on the people you work with can negatively affect the working relationship and outcomes for the individual. The person’s wellbeing is likely to be affected if they cannot participate in activities and make decisions that are in line with their own values and attitudes.

Community values

Community values are beliefs or behaviour standards shared by the members of a community. These are agreed-upon ideas about what constitutes good or bad, or what a community finds acceptable.

At times, community values can be based on myths or stereotypes, and they can have an effect on how a worker perceives a person and what their needs might be.

For example, believing that all disabilities are visible or a person with a disability:

• prefers to spend time with other people with disabilities
• is not capable of leading an independent life
• has a lack of capability or intelligence.

For example, older people:

• are not capable of learning new skills
• are frail and unwell
• are not productive or useful
• are set in their ways and resistant to change.

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Select each bar to expand and reveal the differences between myths and stereotypes.

Myths and stereotyping can bring about bias.

A bias is a feeling of liking or disliking a person or group of people due to a preconceived opinion or prejudice. It may limit your ability to provide individualised support based on the person’s strengths and needs.

Other impacts of myths and stereotypes can include:

• there are low expectations of what a person can do and achieve, leading to decreased opportunities and an increased dependency on others
• an undervaluing of a person's skills and abilities that prevents full participation in society
• the above points leading to a lowered self-esteem and loss of autonomy because of society's perception of value and their contribution to society.

Support a person in expressing their own identity and preferences

A person’s wellbeing is directly related to their ability to express their identity and preferences. You can support a person by creating a safe environment for them to to express their cultural, spiritual, ethnic, gender or sexual identity. You can also support a person to express their preferences on a range of issues, from food choices to social engagement, treatment options and access to services.

As you get to know the person you are supporting, you will be able to identify different ways to support their individual expression. This can be done by:

• providing choices so they can choose the best option for their needs
• encouraging activities that support their interests 
• accessing services that will support their individuality based on their age, sexuality, and cultural, ethnic, spiritual or gender identity.

 Check your understanding

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