Question

6. Read the case study, then answer the questions that follow.

Case study

Toni is a white Australian who is working for an alcohol and other drug counselling and rehabilitation service. Matthew, is Aboriginal, is one of the newer people in the clinic with support needs, and has an extensive history of drug issues. This is the first time Matthew has used a professional health service. In the first week, Matthew demonstrates a number of aggressive behaviours, which is not unusual in the centre, especially in the first two weeks. However, Toni overhears two of her colleagues, Lisa and Xu, talking in the common room about Matthew. Toni hears Lisa and Xu say that a lot of Matthew’s problems stem from the fact that he is Aboriginal. Toni feels this is a very unfair statement, and although she doesn’t like to listen in on a conversation, she does feel she should do something about this situation.

Questions

1. Why do you think Toni is upset towards her colleagues?
2. How might diversity issues impact Matthew’s ability to use the service?
3. How does Toni’s own culture, western systems and structures impact on Matthew’s engagement with the service?

Answer 1

Aboriginal persons are usually used to describe a group of people who are indigenous to their race or a specific territory. In Australia, aboriginal people contribute around 3.1% of the total population. Here Toni is upset clearly because of the unfair conversation between her colleagues. Toni is thinking that it is not appropriate to use the word aboriginal for Matthes's aggressive behavioural condition, clearly indicates a dishonest to their race.

There will be diversity issues for Matthew to adapt to the counselling service because he is not familiar with that culture. Low income, unemployment, exclusion from social activities, lack of education etc contributes much to their diversity issues when they are introduced to a new culture. As Toni is living in a different culture with western systems and structures, indigenous people may take a longer period of time to get familiar with those systems. Here Matthew is a perfect example of this scenario.