Cultural safety for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

Using the National Scheme definition (cultural safety is decided by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, families and communities, and culturally safe practice is continuing critical reflection on the practitioner's knowledge, skills, attitudes, behaviours and power differentials so that care is safe, accessible, responsive and free of racism), the practitioner must: (a) acknowledge colonisation, systemic racism and the social, cultural, behavioural and economic factors affecting individual and community health; (b) recognise and deal with racism by individuals and with their own biases, assumptions, stereotypes and prejudices, giving holistic care with no bias or racism in it; (c) value decisions made by the person, family and community themselves, and partnership and collaboration that they lead; and (d) use leadership to foster a safe working environment that upholds the dignity and rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients and colleagues.

• Reflective practice entries on bias and power in care of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients
• Patient feedback or experience data collected from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients and acted on
• Workplace anti-racism policy and the leader's record of responding to reported racism
• Care plans recording family or community involvement chosen by the patient

• Cultural safety judged by staff rather than by patients' feedback
• Racism incidents handled informally with no record or follow-up
• No mechanism for the patient's family or community to take part in decisions