Culturally safe practice in the Australian context

A view, not a prescription…

Australia, circa 0000 or so

Australia, circa 0000 or so

Ref: Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research, 2007

Australia, circa 2000 or so

History

• Medicine and Surgery have been around for a long time.

• But they have only recently come together.

• Astrologers, philosophers and barbers are our antecedents

History

“I shall desire you of more acquaintance, Good Master Spider

Web.If I cut my finger I shall make bold

with you...”

Culture

• Many definitions, and much talk about there being no standard definition.

• Culture: The system of shared beliefs, values, customs, behaviours, and artefacts that the members of society use to cope with their world and with one another, and that are transmitted from generation to generation through learning.

Ref: University of Manitoba

What is Indigenous identity?

• An Aboriginal person or a Torres Strait Islander person is a person of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent who identifies as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and is accepted as such by the community in which he or she lives

Cultural safety

• Common sense?

• Ethnicity or Indigeneity?

• Check list of what not to do’s?

• Being polite?

• Asking the Indigenous question in the hospital

• Having some posters on the wall?

Headlines

• Lack of respect will not help indigenous children - SMH

• More languages are at risk of extinction in Northern Australia than any other place in the world – AGE• people think that maintaining their

language and culture is an important part of keeping their society together

Headlines

• Ampe akelyernemane meke mekarle: Little children are sacred

• 97 recommendations

• 320 pages of painstaking consultation, representation of the facts and thought-out conclusions

Safety

• How safe is it for our families and communities, our students, our patients, and others in our world, even our teachers and academics?

• How safe are we in our own futures, our own ability to place our feet on the ground, and to feel our place through our feet to our soul?

• How safe are we in conducting our business, our way?

Safety

• How safe is it for our families and communities, our students, our patients, and others in our world, even our teachers and academics?

• How safe are we in our own futures, our own ability to place our feet on the ground, and to feel our place through our feet to our soul?

• How safe are we in conducting our business, our way?

Cultural safety

• Cultural safety is important, nay vital to us, no matter our role in Australia's society

Cultural safety

• Cultural safety is important, nay vital to us, no matter our role in Australia's society

Cultural safety

• Cultural safety is important, nay vital to us, no matter our role in Australia's society

• “If I cut your finger I shall make for you what’s best...”

Cultural safety

• Cultural safety is important, nay vital to us, no matter our role in Australia's society

• “If I cut your finger I shall make for you what’s best...”

• “I shall desire you of more acquaintance, Good Peoples of this Land…”

Cultural safety

• Recipient care

• Reflection on self

• Enhances care

• Does not diminish, disempower

• Gives power

• Recognises inequalities

Cultural safety

• What is the background of this person? • How will this affect the way I will interact

with this individual, their family and community?

• How will this lead my behaviours in dealing with this person?

• What are the special relationships (power laden…culturally dyadic) in this interaction?

• Where are the human rights implications?

Where to next

• We need to have the discussion on Cultural Safety. Right here, in Australia, as a group

• Individuals and organisations should not do this in isolation

• We need to come together and get it happening

Conclusion

• Cultural awareness is not enough

• What is needed is broad institutional reform

• Ensure knowledge, skills and attitudes of all staff are aligned with any area of new endeavour

• Restructure power-sharing, decision making and resource arrangements to include Indigenous people -Tom Calma

Thank you

l.pulver@unsw.edu.au

0404 859 989