Week 9: Equity and Diversity in the Workplace

This discussion concentrates on working with people that are not like us, that is, diversity.  How we treat each other, assimilation, and stereotyping all affect everyone’s experience at work.  Having a diverse workforce can bring innovation, service improvement and improved management practices or it can lead to challenges such as culture shock, conflict, communication and knowledge transfer issues.  Of particular focus was indigenous Australians, gender and generational diversity in the workplace. The Australian Health Leadership Framework (AHLF) (Health Workforce Australia, 2013) is a framework designed to produce better healthcare leaders.  Better leaders produce a happier workplaces and higher retention rates which in turn leads to innovation and improved client outcomes.

Nurses might really eaten their young, or anyone different from them.  I felt the article regarding the challenges of nurses from South Asia (Walters, 2008) interesting and an eye-opener.  I have experienced the disrespect of the older generation of nurses at CQU and paramedical and hospital systems.  I have also experienced a reverse culture shock whilst working with a majority Nepalese workforce.  I felt isolated, alone, found communication difficult, and was snubbed when trying to make friends.  Being older also made me feel as if my opinion and work was not valued which diminished my work experience and I chose to leave.  I note however, upon reflection, that when I work as a private paramedic, as an older female, I am the person people look to as the most experienced.

Australians original from over 200 countries, speak over 300 languages and more than 100 religions.  One of the fastest growing groups in recent years is people born in Nepal. In 2011 there were 24,600 people born in Nepal, compared to 2,600 in 2001, a five-fold increase in just five years (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2013). I learnt that the government acknowledges the need for diversity training in the healthcare workplace and hoped that the AHLF will change attitudes so that I might have a more pleasant experience in my future healthcare jobs.

The most important point that I take away from this lecture is that respecting all people is paramount and that the welfare of the patient should always be my top priority.

Picture 5: LEAP. Health Workforce Australia (2013)

References

Australian Bureau of Statistics (a). (2013, Apr 30). The 'Average' Australian. Retrieved from Australian Bureau of Statistics: http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4102.0Main+Features30April+2013

Health Workforce Australia. (2013). Health LEADS Australia: the Australian Health Leadership Framework. Canberra: Australian Government.

Walters, H. (2008). The experiences, challenges and rewards of nurses from South Ausia in the process of entering the Australian nursing system. Australian Journal of Advanced Nurses, 25(3), 95-105.