Communication across cultures

Dear Learners,

In a multicultural society like Australia, everyone has diverse experiences, values, and perspectives. Communication is more than just speaking clearly—it’s also about building connections and sharing meaning with people from all walks of life.

In your future roles, you will work with clients from diverse cultural, linguistic, and social backgrounds. It is essential that you can communicate effectively and help create safe and inclusive spaces that support every person’s health and wellbeing. People desire to feel seen, heard, and understood. When you actively listen and adapt your communication style to suit others, you will help build positive relationships, resulting in better service delivery.

To effectively communicate across cultures, you should:

• Be mindful of non-verbal cues: gestures, eye contact, and personal space can vary greatly between cultures.
• Practice active listening: show that you’re engaged and open to understanding others, even if their viewpoint is different to yours.
• Use clear and inclusive language: avoid jargon and slang. Be patient if there are language barriers or other barriers present. If needed, visual aids can be useful.
• Avoid making assumptions: if you’re unsure about the person’s preferences or needs, politely ask rather than making assumptions.

It takes time and practice to build these skills, but stronger relationships, better teamwork, and inclusive environments are well worth the wait.

Keep building those skills, learners!