Service Organisations’ Cultural Competency When Working with Ethnic Minority Victims/Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse: Results from a Program Evaluation Study in Australia

Founded in the results of a systematic literature review, a professional development program was developed about the needs of ethnic minority victims/survivors of child sexual abuse, with one component on the role of organisations. The objective was to address the misperception that frontline worker...

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Main Author: Pooja Sawrikar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-09-01
Series:Social Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/9/9/152
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author Pooja Sawrikar
author_facet Pooja Sawrikar
author_sort Pooja Sawrikar
collection DOAJ
description Founded in the results of a systematic literature review, a professional development program was developed about the needs of ethnic minority victims/survivors of child sexual abuse, with one component on the role of organisations. The objective was to address the misperception that frontline workers are more responsible for cultural competency. The program was delivered across Australia in 2019 (T1 n = 112, T2 n = 44). Data collection for the program evaluation was conducted over six months using a mixed-methods design. The results show that: (a) a sizeable portion of organisations (16%) do not have any <i>ethnic minority staff</i>, and very few are <i>in management positions</i> (6–13%); (b) ethnic minority staff, and staff in organisations specialised for ethnic minority communities, <i>offer choice to clients about ethnically-matched service providers</i> more often; (c) there is evidence supporting the usefulness of <i>ongoing training</i>; (d) the use of a <i>multicultural framework</i> was rated higher ‘in principle’ than ‘in practice’, and ratings increased after the program; (e) the proportion of organisations collecting <i>ethnicity-related data</i> did not increase over time; (f) all organisations specialised for ethnic minority communities had <i>visually inclusive websites</i> but was only 54% for mainstream organisations; and (g) organisations specialised for ethnic minority communities have stronger <i>links with other local ethnic minority community organisations</i>. Overall, the program is seen as useful for promoting cultural competency at the organisational level; clearly identifying key mandatory and ideal elements, which support good practice with this highly vulnerable and marginalised client group.
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spelling doaj.art-517ebd9c740b44ea8874a61ab7dd2e6d2023-11-20T12:30:46ZengMDPI AGSocial Sciences2076-07602020-09-019915210.3390/socsci9090152Service Organisations’ Cultural Competency When Working with Ethnic Minority Victims/Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse: Results from a Program Evaluation Study in AustraliaPooja Sawrikar0School of Human Services and Social Work, Griffith University, Gold Coast 4222, AustraliaFounded in the results of a systematic literature review, a professional development program was developed about the needs of ethnic minority victims/survivors of child sexual abuse, with one component on the role of organisations. The objective was to address the misperception that frontline workers are more responsible for cultural competency. The program was delivered across Australia in 2019 (T1 n = 112, T2 n = 44). Data collection for the program evaluation was conducted over six months using a mixed-methods design. The results show that: (a) a sizeable portion of organisations (16%) do not have any <i>ethnic minority staff</i>, and very few are <i>in management positions</i> (6–13%); (b) ethnic minority staff, and staff in organisations specialised for ethnic minority communities, <i>offer choice to clients about ethnically-matched service providers</i> more often; (c) there is evidence supporting the usefulness of <i>ongoing training</i>; (d) the use of a <i>multicultural framework</i> was rated higher ‘in principle’ than ‘in practice’, and ratings increased after the program; (e) the proportion of organisations collecting <i>ethnicity-related data</i> did not increase over time; (f) all organisations specialised for ethnic minority communities had <i>visually inclusive websites</i> but was only 54% for mainstream organisations; and (g) organisations specialised for ethnic minority communities have stronger <i>links with other local ethnic minority community organisations</i>. Overall, the program is seen as useful for promoting cultural competency at the organisational level; clearly identifying key mandatory and ideal elements, which support good practice with this highly vulnerable and marginalised client group.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/9/9/152child sexual abuseethnic minoritiescultural competencywhite privilegeintersectionalitymulticultural framework
spellingShingle Pooja Sawrikar
Service Organisations’ Cultural Competency When Working with Ethnic Minority Victims/Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse: Results from a Program Evaluation Study in Australia
Social Sciences
child sexual abuse
ethnic minorities
cultural competency
white privilege
intersectionality
multicultural framework
title Service Organisations’ Cultural Competency When Working with Ethnic Minority Victims/Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse: Results from a Program Evaluation Study in Australia
title_full Service Organisations’ Cultural Competency When Working with Ethnic Minority Victims/Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse: Results from a Program Evaluation Study in Australia
title_fullStr Service Organisations’ Cultural Competency When Working with Ethnic Minority Victims/Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse: Results from a Program Evaluation Study in Australia
title_full_unstemmed Service Organisations’ Cultural Competency When Working with Ethnic Minority Victims/Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse: Results from a Program Evaluation Study in Australia
title_short Service Organisations’ Cultural Competency When Working with Ethnic Minority Victims/Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse: Results from a Program Evaluation Study in Australia
title_sort service organisations cultural competency when working with ethnic minority victims survivors of child sexual abuse results from a program evaluation study in australia
topic child sexual abuse
ethnic minorities
cultural competency
white privilege
intersectionality
multicultural framework
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/9/9/152
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