Cultural safety for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

Culturally safe practice is required, and it is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, families and communities themselves who judge whether it has been achieved. To achieve it the psychologist must: (a) recognise colonisation, systemic racism and the social, cultural, behavioural and economic influences on individual and community health; (b) confront racism at the individual level and examine their own prejudices, stereotypes, assumptions and biases, and give holistic services without racism or bias; (c) recognise how much self-determined decisions, partnership and collaboration matter in services that the person, their family and their community drive; and (d) through leadership, foster a safe workplace in which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, colleagues and practitioners have their dignity and rights upheld.

• Client feedback or experience surveys from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients and how results were acted on
• Reflective practice or supervision notes examining the psychologist's own bias and assumptions
• Workplace anti-racism policy and incident register, with leadership actions taken

• Cultural safety judged by the practice rather than by the clients and communities served
• Racist remarks or incidents in the workplace not addressed