Cultural Safety Workshop Some approaches for Divisions in working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and organisations February 25 th 2009.

Cultural Safety Workshop

Some approaches for Divisions in working with Aboriginal and Torres

Strait Islander people and organisations

February 25th 2009

Research

• Learn about the history, the people and the culture:

Some good starting points include:

“The Little Red Yellow Black Book – an introduction to Indigenous Australia” by Bruce Pascoe

The Koorie Heritage Trust Cultural Centrehttp://www.koorieheritagetrust.com/

Bunjilaka – Aboriginal Cultural Centre, Melbourne Museum

Recognition

• Divisions (and member practices) can routinely acknowledge traditional ownership of the land:

Signage Flags and symbols Statement of acknowledgement (i.e. at meetings)

Reporting

Identifying Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander patients

This practice acknowledges the traditional owners of the land, and recognises the health disadvantages caused by policies and practices enacted since European colonisation.

This practice is committed to “Closing the Gap” between indigenous and non-indigenous life expectancy.

To achieve this goal we need to know if patients are of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent. Please help us by telling your doctor. This information will be recorded in your confidential patient file.

Relationships

• “The second point is, once you've got librarians who are able to relate to Aboriginal people warmly, then you have to find a way in which you can strengthen your librarians to be strong enough to get out of their buildings and go into the community. The third point is that, once you've got out there into the community and the people like you, then is the time to invite them back into the library”.

Maisie Wilson 1979 (from: the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Library and Information Resources Network Protocols)

Resources

• Program/practice support:

Practice management, accreditation

Chronic disease management initiatives

Health promotion

Workforce (recruitment, professional development)