Wellbeing

How to Support People from Difference Cultural Backgrounds

Australia is one of the most multicultural countries in the would – from the oldest continuous culture of our First Australians, to the 49% of Australians who were born overseas or have a parent who was. Since 1945, more than 7.5 million people have migrated to Australia. Apart from English, the most common languages spoken in Australia are Mandarin, Arabic, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Italian, Greek, Tagalog/Filipino, Hindi, Spanish and Punjabi.

Cultural diversity is great as it helps us to do things in different ways and brings together traditions, religions, languages and, of course, food! However, it can be challenging as well. This might range from being misunderstood by others or feeling unrepresented, to experiencing racial abuse.

While you might not experience these challenges personally, there are many ways you can support the people in your life who may face discrimination or racism. Showing support for others means you are being an ally, which is an important part of being a good friend, but it can also have a broader ripple effect in creating a fairer society for all.

Stand up against discrimination:

These situations can be intimidating and it’s normal not to know how to react. Some key things to do are to remain calm, ask them why they have a particular point of view, offer an alternative perspective, show empathy, and if necessary, make notes on or record the incident and report it.

Open up the conversation:

Support, in a less confrontational setting, by having a 1:1 chat with your friend if you know they’ve been targeted. Let them know that you’re on their side and you think racism is wrong.

More knowledge = being more empowered:

Broaden your cultural awareness. For example, read/watch/listen to other people’s stories. Knowing and learning more about the history of your own country is also an important part of this learning experience.

Don’t forget to take care of yourself:

Be proud of your role as an ally. However, being a passionate supporter can take its toll. Remember that in order to help others feel good, you also need to feel good yourself. If you need to, you can always reach out for support.

The above information has been sourced from ReachOut.com and is available at https://au.reachout.com/articles/standing-up-to-racism

Penny Hsiao

Health Promotion Nurse