Respectful learning
This section provides guidance on how you can engage in respectful learning and cultural exchange, so your interactions with multicultural volunteers and the wider community are informed and culturally inclusive.
The best place to start is by talking directly with your volunteers and the communities you want to learn more about.
“Ask questions and don’t assume.”
Our co-designers have identified some things be conscious of when having these conversations:
Ask questions respectfully and never let your assumptions become facts.
Value lived experiences and never invalidate another person's experiences.
Learn but don't stereotype others' cultures.
Every state and territory has a government body dedicated to multicultural engagement. In Victoria, it’s the Victorian Multicultural Commission and Multicultural Affairs who can help connect you with community leaders. These resources are a great first point of contact when approaching multicultural communities.
Note that Respectful Learning is intertwined with all the other subsections in this module:
It is the first step you should take after Looking inward when you have identified areas of improvement.
It helps you minimise conflict and manage it respectfully because you know your volunteers better.
Creating an inclusive environment is dependent upon what you have learnt from your volunteers.
It helps build rapport during engagement which will improve your communication and collaboration.
It is a fundamental part of building cultural awareness.
It should be at the forefront of your mind when considering cultural inclusion and it will enhance you and your volunteers’ experience when you prioritise it.
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TIP – find out when a cultural event is happening and contact the organisers to ask if you can participate. These are exciting opportunities to learn about a culture’s customs and traditions.