CULTURAL COMPETENCE OF SOCIAL WELFARE PROFESSIONALS IN SERBIA AND CROATIA – INTER-COUNTRY COMPARISON

Abstract

The paper aims to analyse and compare the knowledge, attitudes and practices of social welfare employees in Serbia and Croatia when it comes to the domain of cultural competence. 101 participants from both countries participated in the research, the data were collected online, using a questionnaire developed for the purposes of this research. The main results of this research indicate a lack of application of the cultural competence principle when it comes to professionals in both countries, as well as a minimal involvement of institutions/organisations in dealing with this topic. At the end of the paper, the authors make recom-mendations in the direction of more proactive and culturally competent professionals in the field of social welfare in both countries.