Authors: Jenny Ward and Rodrigo Aguilera
Year: 2002
Event: 2002 TheMHS Conference
Subject: Transcultural Mental Health
Type of resource: Conference Presentations and Papers
Abstract: The notion that “one size fits all” is a popular in our society - whether you are buying a pair of socks or trying to make sense of the system at Centrelink - individual differences are not taken into account. Whether you take a size 6 or a size 10 in socks it is expected that they will fit you “like a glove” (another anomaly as I’ve yet to buy a pair that fit properly!). it doesn’t make any difference if you have no training/experience in any field or have a Doctorate in Archaeology if you are receiving unemployment benefits you are expected to apply for 10 jobs each fortnight – this does not take into account that the positions available to the Archaeologist will be fewer and require more detailed applications than those for a job in McDonalds (or that the Archaeologist will be considered overqualified for the job at McDonalds). In a society that almost idolises the individual and their rights it is incongruent that individual differences are so poorly regarded. But that is what we are, a group of individuals who are (inconsistently) the same – but who’s individual rights are revered.
As part of that mix of individuals we have a significant proportion of people who have come to live in Australia from other lands and cultures.
This resource is only available for subscribers. If you have a subscription, please log in. Otherwise, click here to purchase a subscription.