The Department of Business and Employment, Training and Employment Programs (TEP) Unit coordinates cross-cultural training programs for the Northern Territory Public Sector (NTPS).
These programs are a part of the Northern Territory Governments A Working Future initiative. The objectives of the programs are to develop capability to more effectively deliver outcomes for Aboriginal Territorians and to remove structural or institutional barriers that are based on cultural differences.
A key contributor to the achievement of the A Working Future initiative is the cultural competence of the NTPS. Cultural competence has been defined as an ability to interact effectively with people of different cultures. Cultural competence comprises four components:
- Awareness of one's own cultural worldview
- Attitude towards cultural differences
- Knowledge of different cultural practices and worldviews
- Cross-cultural skills.
The cross-cultural programs offered are grouped into the following four training programs:
- Orientation
- Frontline and Systems Staff
- Middle Management (Frontline Service Delivery Staff)
- Middle Management (Systems Staff)
- Course outlines for each program are provided on the DBE training calendar.