Staff Training

Why is it that, in order to be a qualifed community worker, i need to be aware of the following statement (which i came across in my studies), and yet, it doesn't seem to be adequate enough information for the workplace in which i am trying to gain full-time employment for?????

The more i read about the Community Services Industry (CSI), the more horrified i am by the way in which employees are being taken on for where I envision myself becoming involved and working. Ughhh.....perhaps i shouldn't be undertaking these studies....it just makes me mad!!!

If this place of work which I am trying to get into is serious about hiring QUALIFIED individuals then perhaps they themselves need to study what i am studying and perhaps they may need to consider the following..... 

"Staff training

Organisations should ensure that all staff have access to induction training on starting their employment and ONGOING CROSS CULTURAL AWARENESS TRAINING. Guest speakers from different groups could be invited to talk on a range of topics including current issues, racism and social isolation.  (!!!!!!!!)

Cross cultural training should also provide workers with the opportunity to look at their own values and attitudes and how they impact on their behaviour with clients.  This will directly affect service provision and the effective operation of an organisation.

Training should also include an understanding of the legislative requirements and ensure compliance in the workplace through the organisations policies and procedures."

~ OTEN Cert 4 in Community Services Material

Our Issues and Differences

As crazy as it became today, I can honestly say i loved having our rather intense discussion over lunch today Ben Pullen, and that was because i recognised the need to be clear on my facts.

As an education to the general public and also just a little something i stumbled upon in my Assessment Research, here's what I have become more aware of today....

"People become refugees (and are entitled to international protection and assistance) from the moment they flee their country due to a well-founded fear of persecution, as stipulated in the Refugee Convention. This means that a person can simultaneously be a refugee and an asylum seeker.

While many refugees are, or have been, asylum seekers, not all asylum seekers are refugees. Some will be found to have valid claims for protection which entitle them to international protection and assistance. Others will be found not to be refugees, nor to be in need of any other form of international protection, and as such are expected to return to their country of origin."

~ http://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/f/who-def.php

And just for my own two cents.....

Regardless of how many people come by boat, plane or otherwise, as Australia is part of the 1951 Refugee Convention and 1967 Protocol, our country should welcome and give opportuntiy to refugees/asylum seekers to have their claims processed on our shores OTHERWISE Australia needs to consider taking their name off that 1951 Refugee Convention and 1967 Protocol as a supporting country.

(http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=V-5&chapter=5&lang=en)

But anyway, good chat today Ben.  We are SO lucky we have the freedom to express our own individual opinions without fear of the other person persecuting the other.  If nothing else, I am extremely grateful, that we were able to walk away from our discussion and still call one another friend, a privilege these refugees/asylum seekers have been denied.

You have a good heart and are a great man Ben!  Thanks for lunch today, it was worth the extra 15 minutes!!!

PS:  Please promise me you'll watch 'Go Back to Where You Came From"  - It's a good series! 

You can watch it online HERE

(After i wrote this blog, I actually came across this....http://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/n/mr/121101_Excision.pdf)