THE IMPORTANCE OF CULTURAL COMPETENCE IN AUSTRALIA

Cultural competence is the ability to see and understand where your culture sits in relation to others. It does not require a linguistic understanding, but does entail a social and cultural literacy. Academic, Simon Marginson states that personal attributes linked to cultural competency include flexibility, critical thinking, empathy, tolerance, coping with ambiguity and uncertainty, understanding divergent points of view and being “conscious of one’s identity” (2012).

As a nation that relies so heavily on international education to support our economy, it is critical that Australia turns its attention to the importance of cultural competency. Australia is stereotyped as being a nation of racist, culturally insensitive bogans, which isn’t always the case, but it is true that Australians struggle with international students, with Marginson arguing that unfortunately, this cultural ‘incompetence’ cannot be easily reversed. Factors preventing Australia from being more engaged with international students are entrenched in our society and way of life; “Australians are often too parochial, trapped within an Australia-centred view of a diverse and complex world,” explains Marginson (2012). Because we are such a culturally diverse nation, I find this difficult to comprehend. In theory, this should be one of the things that Australia excels at. Our values of mateship and comradery align with the components of a cultural competence and we have so much contact and access to a range of different cultures, yet we struggle so consistently with this concept, with international students themselves even dictating that “‘Australians’ did not want to know them” (Kell & Vogl 2007, p. 6). Research is yet to determine the root of this problem. Some blame our geographical isolation and others believe our inherent feeling of superiority stems back to colonisation.

Marginson argues that one of the main ways international education is struggling in Australia is due to our vision of international students and the expectation that they will slip straight into the Australian lifestyle, because “the host country culture is normalized without question” (2012). This is an unrealistic expectation for students as identity and the sense of self do not work in this fashion; however, this is the expectation of local students. These preconceived ideas of international students are contributing to the stereotype that Australians are “not interested” in international students (Marginson, 2012), something very damaging for our economy and global reputation. In such a culturally diverse country, it is critical that Australians realise the importance of being culturally literate and to strive for cultural competence function effectively as a society. If Australia’s population where more culturally aware of themselves and others I believe that there would be substantially fewer conflicts and misunderstandings because others would be able to see or empathise with the cultural conduct that may have dictated a decision or action.

A recent example that proved the importance of cultural competence was during the aftermath of a ‘stunt’ pulled in Australian parliament last week. On 17 August 2017, Senator Pauline Hanson appeared in parliament wearing a burqa to argue the garment was a security risk, where she was met by a steamy response from Attorney-General, George Brandis. Thankfully, many in the Muslim community have disregarded the stunt, with daughter of the director of Islamic Council of Victoria, Merve Aykan, explaining that she hadn’t been bothered by the incident and assumed it was “nonsense” (in Belot 2017). However, alternative responses have recognised a much deeper effect. Australian de-radicalisation authority, Dr. Clarke Jones, stated that it could ignite radicalisation of Islamic youths if they feel unwelcome in this country, explaining “comments like that, the language she used, stunts like this, is damaging kids' spirits and making them question where they are and if they belong” (in Belot 2017). Hansen’s wearing of the burqa has thrown accelerant on the established flame of the clash of civilisations between Islam and Western culture, and denotes the importance of being culturally competent to continue living in a harmonious society.

Pauline Hanson wearing a burqa in the Australian Parliament, 2017

Belot, H 2017, ‘Pauline Hanson's burka stunt counterproductive, 'toxic' for national security, experts warn’, ABC News, 18 August, viewed 24 August 2017, <http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-18/pauline-hansons-burka-stunt-damaging-for-national-security/8818226>.

Kell, P & Vogl, G 2007, ‘International Studies: Negotiating life and study in Australia through Australian Englishes’, Everyday Multiculturalism Conference Proceedings, Macquarie University, 28 – 29 September.

Marginson, S 2012, ‘International Education as self-formation: Morphing a profit-making business into and intercultural experience’, lecture, BCM111, University of Wollongong, delivered 21 February.