Introduction

This topic explores the ideas of being a good ally and how we can have courageous conversations when we witness things. We know that we will see things that do not support belonging and inclusion and do not foster a diverse environment. There are personal strategies and behaviours that those who witness disrespect, discrimination, and bias can adopt in response to those behaviours and support individuals (and groups) who are the targets of this behaviour.  Such strategies and actions can mitigate the impact of disrespectful, discriminatory or biased behaviour.  

Examples of things to do when you wish to be an ally include:

          

Lessons can be learnt about allyship and having courageous conversations from many different places. Many schools in Australia have antibullying campaigns and formal programs. If you have school-aged children, ask them what they learn about this at school and reflect on how this can be applied in your workplace. 

Strengths and Deficits:  How you define the problem is how you define the solution 

Confused and conflated definitions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs and cultural safety lead to organisations adopting a deficit and charity approach or defining Aboriginal outcomes as a problem of Aboriginal capacity rather than a problem of institutional barriers. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs should not only be about ‘Closing the Gap’ using an ‘inclusion’ or charity approach (deficit). Instead, it should primarily be about Aboriginal knowledge and paradigms that can inform better outcomes for all (strength).

If we consider Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People to be the problem (e.g. not attending appointments and non-compliance), then we'll design transport solutions, for example. If we see racism and lack of cultural safety in the system as the problem, we will focus on these changes.

Reflect on how Aboriginal people are portrayed in the media, government policies and public rhetoric through the lens of the way the problem is defined: deficit or strength.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are often portrayed negatively in media, or a romanticised version of reality is portrayed. Aboriginal culture is the oldest continuing culture on the planet, but societal perceptions may convey this as old, relics, Dreamtime, rather than a continuing, evolving, continuous culture. Often the success Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people achieve is not tied back to their historical perseverance but rather to just escaping a cycle of poverty. 

For those who are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander doctors, this is a great achievement for the individual, their family and the community. However, the cultural self is rarely recognised in the workplace.

	Activities to facilitate learning

The following activities will enhance your learning on this topic.