Prior to enrolling in the unit ‘Indigenous issues in criminal justice,’ I was only aware of minor details in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait islanders in the criminal justice system. The information I have been previously fed was enforced by negative and stereotypical representations. I had assumed indigenous people were unwilling to conform to expectations of modern society as a retaliation to the actions of the white settlers. However, Indigenous issues in criminal justice has altered my personal perceptions of Australian Indigenous people. In particular matters concerning Indigenous identity, recognizing the value of Indigenous customary law, and the reoccurring matters for Indigenous young people. I am interested in working with disadvantaged children once I have completed my degree. Therefore, changing my preconceived notions of the Australian Indigenous population would enhance my professional practice to deliver an integrated service that acknowledges the diverse cultures of each child. For that reason I have chosen the role of a Child Safety Officer for this Reflective Journal. I will reflect on weeks: one, two, three and eleven as I feel these weeks are most relevant to my job role. Teachings from these specific weeks will be extracted to address the core …show more content…
In week one the unit explored the role of Indigenous identity and law in society. The learning material covered how social notions of native Australians have influenced the development of Australian contemporary law and practices. I will reflect on Indigenous identity, and recognizing the significance of cultural awareness when organizing care for Aboriginal youths. This discussion will be in relation to two core capabilities of the role of a Child Safety Officer, a critique of the role, and the legislation that sanctions the role.
Core Capabilities: Technical and role specific, and supports productive working