Cultural Competency Training for AccessEAP
Our journey towards cultural competency. At AccessEAP we are committed to developing cultural competency across our business. For us that means providing the best possible experience for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander customers. By increasing our cultural awareness and knowledge of historical events impacting the nature of trauma experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees today, we offer the opportunity to develop more culturally appropriate EAP holistic support services. In order for us to authenticate our commitment, AccessEAP is investing in the ongoing development of cultural sensitivity within our workforce by offering online Cultural Competency Training for all employees.
Arrilla Cultural Competency Training is the first step in this process aiming to empower all AccessEAP employees to gain knowledge, skills and confidence to work more effectively with Indigenous colleagues, customers, companies and communities, or while working on Indigenous projects or strategies. The training is also designed to improve understanding and the relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the wider, diverse Australian community. As we all move towards Indigenous cultural competency, so too will organisations. Although we have a dedicated Culturally Competent Team with a depth and breadth of experience and knowledge we don't purport to all be overnight experts - it will take time. Together, we’ll create a better environment to help Indigenous people thrive, and we’ll enable organisations to benefit from a more productive workforce.
Update on our RAP journey
AccessEAP’s reconciliation journey has progressed with the planning of the Reflect component of our Reconciliation Action Plan, now completed.
Some of the changes we are implementing include:
- Providing clients with the opportunity to speak with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Counsellor or a Culturally Sensitive Counsellor when requested.
- Mandatory Cultural Competence training for all staff. The Clinical team participate in additional Trauma Informed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Capability training with the Centre for Cultural Competence Australia
- Providing a Dedicated Support Line. The aim is to provide a culturally sensitive referral process for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander callers.
Please speak to your AccessEAP main contact to receive a copy of our Reconciliation Action Plan – Reflect report. The report features commissioned art by Brett Groves, a proud Wiradjuri man, and artist sourced through Supply Nation. Brett Groves’ piece, The Smoking Ceremony, tells the story of Connection to Country and the connection between AccessEAP offices throughout Australia.
