About this resource
Belonging and culture shape who we are. This reflection invites young people to explore where they feel they belong, cultural strengths and traditions, people who connect them to culture and what they would like to learn or explore.
Purpose
To support identity, belonging and connection to culture.
Who it is for
Primary profession: Youth workers. Also relevant for counsellors and therapists, community services and case workers.
Client or participant group: Young people aged about 12 to 25.
Practice setting: Youth services, schools and cultural programs.
Suggested uses
- Identity work
- Cultural programs
- Mentoring
- Group sessions
Instructions for practitioners
- Let young people define culture and belonging for themselves.
- Respect multiple identities.
- Connect with cultural mentors and community organisations if wanted.
- Do not assume connection or disconnection.
Instructions for clients or participants
- Write where you feel you belong.
- Write your cultural strengths.
- Write what you want to explore.
Accessibility considerations
Can be drawn, spoken or made into a collage.
Scope and limitations
A reflective activity.
Research basis
School-based social and emotional learning programs improve students' social skills, behaviour and academic results. Cultural safety asks practitioners to examine their own power and bias, and is defined by the experience of the person receiving care.
- Curtis, E., Jones, R., Tipene-Leach, D., Walker, C., Loring, B., Paine, S. J., & Reid, P. (2019). Why cultural safety rather than cultural competency is required to achieve health equity: a literature review and recommended definition. International Journal for Equity in Health, 18(1), 174. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-019-1082-3
- Durlak, J. A., Weissberg, R. P., Dymnicki, A. B., Taylor, R. D., & Schellinger, K. B. (2011). The Impact of Enhancing Students’ Social and Emotional Learning: A Meta-Analysis of School-Based Universal Interventions. Child Development, 82(1), 405–432. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2010.01564.x
What is included
A 2-page printable A4 PDF, including a practitioner notes page with the research basis (version 1.0).
Originality
Original Practitioner Plus content: wording, activity structure, layout and icons were created for this resource. No third-party worksheets, illustrations or text were reproduced.
