Humanities, culture and the arts are useful forums for discussion of marine and coastal themes as they allow us to examine the way that we feel about the sea and use the coast and its resources, both as individuals and as a society. The history of white Australia is a story of migration and of coastal settlement. To understand how our society uses and values the coast we need to include the contribution of ethnic communities in shaping this history. Generalized notions such as 'Australian beach culture' are inadequate in describing the diverse experiences of multicultural Australia. Hearing the stories of people from a diverse range of backgrounds enables us to acknowledge our differences and our similarities.
Cultural awareness is important to instill a sense of global citizenship and responsibility.
It helps us to appreciate what we have in common with the lives of people from around the planet who share with us our basic human experience and our dependence on the ocean that connects us. One of the best ways to develop cultural awareness is through getting to know people from different cultures and hearing them talk about their personal experiences. This module provides trainers and teachers with strategies for accessing the human resources within their own school and community so they can incorporate diverse cultural perspectives into their educational programs. Structure and delivery of the workshop should be adapted according to the social and cultural context of the local area. The material in the module is not culturally specific and generalizations about the practices and beliefs of particular cultures have been avoided.