An intercultural critical reflection model

ABSTRACT

Critical reflection is an important tool used by social workers to develop culturally responsive education, practice, and supervision. Current frameworks provide clearly defined processes for learners and professionals to create culturally safe learning and practice. However, in the models currently used in Australian social work, there is no representation of Aboriginal ways of knowing, being and doing. In this paper, we introduce a new model which integrates, for the first time, both Western and Aboriginal Peoples’ epistemologies in critical reflection. This model is intended to be used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous learners and professionals who are dedicated to creating culturally safe spaces that acknowledge and integrate Aboriginal Peoples’ culture and wisdom. The aim of the model is to support social workers to reflect deeply, then integrate and act on their learning in a culturally responsive way that may create transformative practice.

KEYWORDS:

• Critical reflection
• cultural responsiveness
• Aboriginal
• indigenous
• social work
• teaching
• learning

Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge the ARC for funding this article under IN180100023 and Krystal Bourke for copyediting and assistance with the diagram.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Australian Research Council [IN180100072].

Notes on contributors

Bindi Bennett

Helen Redfern is a non-Indigenous cis- gendered mother and social worker. Helen has extensive practice experience in health working predominantly in social work management and administration, disability and aged care.

Bindi Bennett is a Gamilaraay cis gendered mother, researcher and social worker. Her interests include trauma in mental health utilising animals, Aboriginal social work, Aboriginal identity and wellbeing as well as increasing cultural responsiveness in allied health. Bindi has over 20 years practice experience in the fields of Aboriginal social work, child and adolescent mental health, schools and health.