Aboriginal Australians

[Extract] Contemporary work in the human services needs to encompass so many diverse opinions, knowledge, values, lifestyles and cultures that it can be confusing to know which path to take and how to respond. Many human service workers practice within a social justice paradigm that challenges them to try to respond equally to all aspects of social disadvantage that they encounter. However, this objective can be experienced as over­whelming and unattainable. We have ourselves struggled with feelings . of uncertainty, especially in an area that is neither clearly nor com­prehensively taught or discussed in our schools, universities or in our professional communities, that is, how to work effectively with our first nation, the Aboriginal people.