How ‘culturally friendly’ is your agency or organisation?

• Do people from diverse cultures regularly use your services?
   
• Are there any bi-lingual staff in your organisation?
   
• Do you have a youth policy that is culturally inclusive?
   
• Are you aware of the cultural make-up of young people within your community?

What is Cultural Competence and why is it important?

In simple terms, a culturally competent service may provide young people from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds with an environment in which they feel involved, respected and comfortable in discussing their culturally derived beliefs and sharing their cultural practices.

According to Augustine (2004), culturally competent Youth Development work involves the provision of services and programs that:

• value and respect the cultural beliefs/practices of the diverse youth they serve 
• address the issues and opportunities that arise when different cultures interact 
• allow for ongoing self-assessments 
• acquire cultural knowledge on an ongoing basis 
• adapt to the cultures of the individuals and communities served 

Culturally competent Youth Development work also recognises the range of issues and experiences of each young person.  This includes, but is not limited to:

• migrants, refugees and asylum seekers have vastly different migration experiences
• young people may be first generation Australian (born overseas) or second generation, being born in Australia to immigrant parents 
• young people may experience varying degrees of comfort with the dominant culture 
• young people’s behaviours may be strongly influenced by their families cultural beliefs and religion

Why is Cultural Competence important?

Addressing cultural competence is extremely important for Youth Development Officers and Local Government because of the growing need to operate in cross-cultural contexts.

• approximately 17.5% of Queensland’s population is made up of culturally and linguistically diverse members representing over 150 countries and more than 40 religions
• approximately 7% of the population speaks a language other than English at home
• approximately 18% of the population born in Australia have either one or both parents born overseas

For Councils and Youth Development Workers, the benefits of working with young people in a culturally competent way are:

• greater youth participation in decision making, planning, consultation, community programs and activities
• increased Council understanding of the cultural profile of it’s young people
• greater understanding of the issues facing culturally diverse young people
• improved service delivery and access to services
• the creation of a more harmonious community with a greater sense of purpose and belonging
• encouraging the full potential of talents, energy and skills of young people of culturally diverse backgrounds

More Information:

Stages of cultural competence

Young person's view on culturally competent services

Assess the level of cultural competence with your program

How to become more culturally competent