Cultural Competence

During my clinical placements, I developed strong cultural competence skills while working with patients from a wide range of cultural and linguistic backgrounds. These settings exposed me to diverse communities within Sydney and required me to adapt my approach to ensure patients felt respected, safe, and supported.

I also gained further experience overseas through paid work as a radiographer assistant in Singapore. This role introduced me to patients from even broader backgrounds, adding to my awareness of how social and cultural contexts influence patient care. Working across both Sydney and Singapore strengthened my confidence in providing culturally sensitive care across varied environments.

For example, with Aboriginal patients, I am aware that they often present with extended family for support. I create space for family involvement and address uncertainty by providing clear, reassuring explanations, helping them feel acknowledged and more comfortable during procedures.

My experience with Muslim patients highlighted the importance of privacy and gender-sensitive care. I ensured female patients were treated by female staff when possible and handled situations requiring the removal of head coverings respectfully, which built trust and improved patient comfort. This experience was further reflected through one of my assignments on "Cultural Competence".

Language barriers were another common challenge, which I addressed both in practice and academically. I completed a group project on patients with English as a Second Language (ESL) to a distinction level, focusing on strategies such as simplifying instructions, using interpreters, and confirming understanding through teach-back. I have applied these strategies in practice and also learned to give basic positioning instructions in English, Tagalog, and Mandarin.

These skills helped patients feel included, understood, and confident during examinations. Together, these experiences demonstrate my ability to respect cultural values, respond flexibly to diversity, and deliver safe, patient-centred care.

Evidence and References

Evidence

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Reference

The University of Sydney. (2022). Graduate qualities. https://www.sydney.edu.au/students/graduate-qualities.html