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    • Sarah Wilkins
      Participant
      Post count: 20

      According to Lynch and Hanson (1992), cross-cultural competence is required to recognise family diversity and family complexity. This can be achieved through self-awareness, knowledge of information specific to different cultures (or specific to one or two in the context in which you work) as well as then the effective application of this knowledge and sensitivity in successful interactions (Chan, 1990). When increasing knowledge of the context in which I work (a rural, isiXhosa community) one must engage with the community to determine local models of child rearing and then try to adapt intervention to the already-existing beliefs and practices (Morelli et al., 2018). As I work with assistants to help with translation who are from the local community and can provide me with helpful local knowledge when working with children and their families. Furthermore, self-reflection and self-awareness are invaluable to ensure continued growth in my understanding of the community’s culture in which I work after each and every interaction I have with each family.

    • Charne Cox (Loe)
      Participant
      Post count: 10

      In total agreement with self-reflection and self-awareness being invaluable.
      It is also very important to be open minded and wanting to learn about different cultures and different traditions.
      I am very fortunate to work with a support staff member (assistant) who is incredibly culturally aware and when I am busy with the child she will teach me about their culture and their different practices. She will even tell me what their name means in the different languages. She is such a wonderful team member that adds such incredible value.
      Something that we should consider at our hospital is to have a safe, quiet, multi-faith room/area.

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