In this course, we are going to explore a range of ways of understanding and appreciating Te Ao Māori, te reo Māori, and culture and diversity. The course is centred on reflecting on ko wai au | who am I, with the understanding that when we know who we are, we are better able to centre the needs of those we work with (ko wai koe). Knowing ko wai au, and ko wai koe, are the first steps to exploring who we are | ko wai i tātou as a country, to achieve the social work's aspirations and goals of social justice.
This course is designed as a dialogue that introduces Te Ao Māori and tauiwi understandings of personal and cultural identities, and an exploration of self in the contexts of social work and working with others. The course locates Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and the colonisation process that followed, as a key context for understanding ko wai au, ko wai koe, and ko wai i tātou, for manawhenua as well as tangata tiriti and tauiwi.
The course takes a compassionate approach to recognise that we all come with preconceived ideas about particular groups, cultures and identities, and until we can understand where those ideas come from, it is difficult to work non-judgementally with people and groups. The course then will help you to identify your, and others' value bases, and the conflicts and tensions that arise from how some groups of people have been stereotyped over time to think about what this means for the development of inclusive relationships in practice. A key focus is developing empathy so you might be able to understand what it may be like to walk in someone else's shoes.