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Australia's cultural melting pot adds diversity to workplace skills
19 September 2008 With 30% of Australian residents born overseas and more jobs than ever in services, the importance of cross cultural training for employees has never been greater. New research by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research says employers are increasingly likely to favour workers who can interact with people of different cultures. However, in his report 'Cross-cultural training and workplace performance' researcher Robert Bean says that the vocational education and training (VET) sector is presently not well geared up to deliver cross cultural training on the scale required. NCVER Managing Director Tom Karmel says the research highlights the positive experience of VET graduates with cross-cultural training as well as employers’ support for it. "The increasing cultural diversity of the Australian population and workforce means that the ability to work across cultures is becoming a necessity for many workers," Dr Karmel said. Although employers acknowledge the benefits of a culturally competent workforce, Bean's work suggests that many are yet to see cross-cultural competencies as part of a generic skill set. To stay ahead of the game, the research suggests VET authorities consult with client industries and enterprises to assess the need for cross-cultural components in programs. However any growth in demand for cross-cultural skills will need to be matched by further training of existing VET staff and recruitment of experienced cross-cultural trainers. To download a copy of Cross-cultural training and workplace performance, please visit http://www.ncver.edu.au/publications/2027.html.
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