Elements and Performance Criteria

RANGE STATEMENT

The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.


Cultural respect
This competency standard supports the recognition, protection and continued advancement of the inherent rights, cultures and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
It recognises that the improvement of the health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people must include attention to physical, spiritual, cultural, emotional and social wellbeing, community capacity and governance
Its application must be culturally sensitive and supportive of traditional healing and health, knowledge and practices


Community control
Community participation and control in decision-making is essential to all aspects of health work, and the role of the health worker is to support the community in this process


Supervision
Supervision must be conducted in accordance with prevailing state/territory and organisation legislative and regulatory requirements
References to supervision may include either direct or indirect supervision of work by more experienced workers, supervisors, managers or other health professionals
A person at this level should only be required to make decisions about clients within the organisation's standard treatment protocols and associated guidelines


Legislative requirements
Federal, state or territory legislation may impact on workers' practices and responsibilities. Implementation of the competency standards should reflect the legislative framework in which a health worker operates. It is recognised that this may sometimes reduce the application of the Range of Variables in practice. However, assessment in the workplace or through simulation should address all essential skills and knowledge across the Range of Variables
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers may be required to operate in situations that do not constitute "usual practice" due to lack of resources, remote locations and community needs. As a result, they may need to possess more competencies than described by "usual practice circumstances"
Under all circumstances, the employer must enable the worker to function within the prevailing legislative framework


A facilitated group healing process includes:
Sharing self selected past emotional influences
Reflection
Support
Confidentiality
Healing yourself
Different therapies - story therapy, art therapy, local traditional therapies
Local traditional healers and/or community elders
Group sharing
Group activities - e.g. painting, music, storytelling, mud maps, projects


Confronting issues may include (but are not limited to):
Stolen generations
Family or personal traumas
Suppressed/revived memories
Personal identity
Working with one's own family, community
Managing a crisis
Critical incidents (e.g. clients' self harm, suicide)
Counselling
Local cultural practices
Resistance from clients


Local therapeutic services will include:
Private practitioners
Community mental health centres
Hospitals
Human/family service agencies
Government and non government agencies.


Process of acquisition of this competency unit must include:
Support from counsellors (preferably Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander) with appropriate experience in working with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people to provide support where personal issues arise that require additional support or counselling


Additional support may be required from:
Local community elders
Traditional healers
Specialist counselling services
Colleagues/supervisors

EVIDENCE GUIDE

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.

Critical aspects of assessment:
The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills
Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over the required range of situations relevant to the workplace
Where, for reasons of safety, space, or access to equipment and resources, assessment takes place away from the workplace, the assessment environment should represent workplace conditions as closely as possible


Context of assessment:
This unit must be assessed in an accessible and supportive group setting, which may be found in an appropriately supervised workplace, training facility or bush residential facility setting
All assessments must ensure that the personal safety of the worker and the client is taken into consideration when demonstrating competence
To deliver and assess in this unit it is essential that the trainer/assessor have special skills in therapy group facilitation with particular experience and expertise in working with and empathy for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people in community settings
It is essential for the delivery of this unit that back up counselling arrangements for unexpected or unusual traumas is arranged and available (another 2 counsellors for the same group of participants - also preferably Aboriginal people)


Conditions of assessment:
This unit includes skills and knowledge specific to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander culture
Assessment must therefore be undertaken by a workplace assessor who has expertise in the unit of competency or who has the current qualification being assessed and who is:
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander him/herself
or:
accompanied and advised by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person who is a recognised member of the community with experience in primary health care


Related units:
This unit should be assessed either after or in conjunction with:
HLTAHW606B Provide guidance in social and emotional well being
CHCAOD408A Assess needs of clients with alcohol and/or other drugs issues
CHCMH504D Provide a range of services to people with mental health issues