How to build a culturally safe workplace with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff

Cultural safety is about creating an environment where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can be themselves, express their cultural and spiritual beliefs, and have their identity and beliefs valued and respected.

For service providers, cultural safety is essential during both service design and delivery to ensure a service or program meets the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. While Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) and Aboriginal-led corporations tend to be best placed to provide culturally safe services, it is critical that all organisations that deliver services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are similarly safe.

One way to improve service engagement through more culturally appropriate care is by employing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the workplace. However, there are a range of challenges that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people may face when working in non-Indigenous organisations. These include managing work and cultural responsibilities and dealing with the impacts of colonial load, burnout and vicarious trauma. In addition, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff may experience discrimination in their workplace. This can include a lack of professional recognition and opportunities for development and promotion and the undervaluing of Indigenous knowledge and skills. These factors can contribute to staff feeling isolated, frustrated and culturally unsafe in their roles.

If non-Indigenous organisations ensure their workplaces are culturally safe and supportive for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, this paves the way for not only better services; but also contributes to better health and social outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

This webinar will help you:

develop a better understanding of what cultural safety is and the importance and value of having culturally safe workplaces
gain insight into the barriers and enablers to building a culturally safe workplace
develop insight into how practitioners, service providers and organisations can build culturally safe workplaces

This webinar will be of interest to general family and child service professionals and managers working in child and family services, child protection, family law, parenting and relationship services, health and education.