Australian South Sea Islanders

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• Introduction
• Defining Cultures
  • The Impact of Culture
  • Modesty
  • Flexibility
  • Excellent Health Care
  • Talking Culture
  • Description
  • Generalisations
  • Setting Limitations
  • Benefits
  • Culture Clash
  • Outcomes
• Building Relationships
  • Visiting a Family
  • Combination
  • Culture
  • Birth Ritual
  • Differences
  • Listening
• Sensitive Solutions
  • Culture
  • Respect and Death
  • Food and Culture
  • Food and Feasts
  • Knowing Questions
  • Overcoming
  • Health Care
  • Enriching Community
  • Final Story
  • Positive Charge
• Facilitators

Australian South Sea Islanders

Reflections

These reflections are based on the topics discussed in the Defining cultures workshop.
Consider the following reflections, either alone or in a group. Jot down any thoughts or ideas.

Reflection 1

Among other things, Barbara's story illustrated the following cultural patterns that are found in some Australian South Sea Islander communities:

The closeness and large size of the family

The importance of family

The use of song and laughter to overcome pain

The use of body language to communicate

Group decision making (as opposed to decisions made alone)

Reservation of emotion in the presence of a stranger.

• Think about these aspects of Australian South Sea Islander culture. If you could incorporate any of these beliefs or traditions into your life, which would you choose?
• Which of these beliefs and patterns do you think are not as pronounced in 'Western' culture?
• Think about the ways these cultural patterns might affect the health of Australian South Sea Islanders, either for the better or the worse.
• Think about times when you have seen these cultural patterns emerge either in an Australian South Sea Islander family or in a family from another culture.

Reflection 2

Several models have been created to aid understanding of the difference between cultures. These models should never be used to restrict or define an individual from a particular culture. They provide only general concepts to aid understanding.

The table below is based on a model created by Geert Hofstede. He believed that some cultures were Individualist and some were Collectivist.

Which statements describe you? You may find that you agree with statements from both columns.

I am from an Individualist culture	I am from a Collectivist culture
I am assertive	I am modest
I create new things all the time	I value the things that are already created
I speak frankly, with directness	I establish trust and friendship in conversation
I tend to take the initiative	I tend to cooperate with others
I like risk-taking	I like to avoid embarrassment
I question things	I accept what I am taught
I like to be self-confident	I like to depend on others
I tell people about my successes	I tell people what my group has achieved
My needs and goals come first	The needs of my group come first
I like varying, short-term relationships	I like stable, long-term relationships
When I talk about what I've been doing I use the word 'I'	When I talk about what I've been doing, I use 'we'
My family structure is democratic – we all have authority	My family structure is hierarchical. Authority is based on gender, age, generation or wealth

You may download the Reflections pdf file below.

Reflections - File Size 132 kb