Cultural safety recommendations released

Vital recommendations to improve cultural safety in health services have been released in a newly published review led by Embrace-funded researchers.

The review, which focused on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people, examined characteristics of culturally safe care across practitioner, intervention, service and system levels.

It found that building cultural safety goes beyond cultural awareness training and displaying Aboriginal artwork in clinics, instead suggesting a focus on developing trust and meaningful connection with community.

“Even though there is already strong knowledge within communities about what culturally safe care looks like, this knowledge is not always reflected in services,” Embrace Aboriginal Project Officer Thomas Betts said. “There should be a focus on building trust and embedding Aboriginal ways of knowing, being, and doing."

Senior Research Officer Dr Hayley Jackson stressed the importance of research aimed at improving care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people, and their families.

“It brings together what is already known, identifies gaps in the evidence, and helps translate these insights into practical approaches that services can use to improve care and highlight where more work is needed,” she said.

“This requires changes across the whole health service and genuine involvement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and communities in planning, delivering, and improving services.”

The recommendations include focus on respectful, clear, and culturally appropriate communication, a workforce that includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff at all levels, and strong partnerships between services with Aboriginal communities. But the development of cultural safety in mental health services remains an ongoing journey, Dr Jackson said.

You can find the full list of recommendations in The Lowitja Journal article here.

Newly funded research is developing training and professional development to improve culturally responsive care among mental health practitioners and administrative and support staff for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Dr Jackson, lead researcher on the CREATE project, explained that it involves collaboration with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander professionals, young people, community members, and non-Indigenous mental health practitioners.

“Using co-design throughout our project, we’re aiming to create resources that build confidence, knowledge, and practical skills in culturally safe practice.”

“Ultimately, we want services to feel better equipped with the skills and knowledge to provide culturally safe care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This work aims to address this gap.”

Embrace is supported by its principal partner Rio Tinto and Channel 7 Telethon Trust.