Cultural load is an important issue for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees. But what is cultural load?
According to Diversity Council Australia, cultural load is the (often invisible) additional workload borne by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the workplace, where they are either the only Indigenous person or one of a small number of Indigenous people. This includes extra Indigenous-related work demands that non-Indigenous colleagues do not have, expectations to educate non-Indigenous colleagues about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and racism, and expectations to talk on behalf of all Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.
Cultural load can also be much more than just being asked by your workplace to contribute/lead activities in the workplace. It is also about the many responsibilities and obligations Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have in their lives that they balance every day – they are more likely to have caring responsibilities and cultural and/or community obligations outside of the workplace. This includes:
- Cultural responsibilities in relation to caring for family members and extended family
- Being part of local advisory councils and boards
- Balancing living and working in Community
- Experiencing systemic racism
- Supporting family and community who are experiencing the impacts of intergenerational trauma
- Living and working off Country
A First Nations colleague recently posted on LinkedIn, and gave us permission to share, this insightful perspective on her own cultural load within the APS workplace context.
It really is a draining thing cultural load. So unless it’s in your specific job role or you simply love doing it, I’d encourage my fellow First Nations colleagues to not feel obligated to say yes every time when asked to organise Reconciliation Week or NAIDOC events or to deliver cultural training components for your organisation. I’d also encourage management to stop assuming your team members who happen to be First Nations want to do the organising or training.
Why do I say no? Well 1. I’m not a trained educator or facilitator nor am I an events manager… and 2. It’s not what I’m paid - yes - paid to do. I’m a HR professional and I receive no extra remuneration for my cultural capability, knowledge or lived experiences (although they certainly are a force multiplier in my current position) so I choose to say no.
Instead I refer to those amazing businesses out there that do this for a living or my colleagues in the right areas of my organisation who are paid to do this. It’s been uncomfortable for me at times (no one likes to say - no) but liberating at the same time (I’d be a millionaire if I had a dollar every time I heard ‘but I don’t understand’ from my colleagues). And for anyone in a management role I recommend online articles stories and books as a start point in appreciating the issue.
It is everyone’s responsibility for the cultural safety of First Nations people in your organisation. Let us acknowledge cultural load and its link to history, lived experience and values of our First Nations employees. It is equally important to understand the role non-First Nations employees have to reduce its impact in the workplace.
What supports are available?
Support is available from:
- your agency’s Employee Assistance Program – as part of some agency programs, individuals can request to speak with counsellors who have received cultural awareness training, or counsellors who have lived and worked in Indigenous communities and have a high level of experience and understanding of Indigenous culture.
- Lifeline on 13 11 14 or by text on 0477 13 11 14 (available 24/7)
- 13YARN on 13 92 76 (available 24/7) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Reducing cultural load – what can I do?
As a first step, you can research the issue or approach non-First Nations people who might know before you approach First Nations people for culturally oriented chats.
Here are some interesting resources to start your journey:
Core Cultural Learning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia – available on APSLearn
NITV - ‘Cultural load’ means mob taking on extra work, and it’s not ok
hrdaily community – Cultural load – Is it time to evaluate the load and who is bearing it?
Curriculum resources | AIATSIS
Coming soon, watch this space!!
The Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) in partnership with NIAA and Defence will be launching the new Cultural Capability Hub shortly on the APS Academy people page. It provides practical guidance, suggested examples and links to further resources to support agencies to use the Cultural Capability Framework to uplift their cultural capability. The Hub demonstrates the skills, knowledge and practices you need to perform your duties in a culturally informed way.