Centre for Remote Health

A joint centre of Flinders University and Charles Darwin University

Cultural Safety

Kathleen Martin
 What is Cultural Safety
• It is a term used to describe a way of working with
people of different cultural backgrounds that does
not diminish, demean or disempower someone
(Nursing Council of New Zealand 2009).

• A person should feel safe to talk about their own

unique world views and cultural values without
feeling less important than others. Cultural safety
is a way of working rather than specific knowledge
about cultures.
Cultural Safety
 What is Cultural Safety?

“Cultural Safety is defined as our understanding of our

own personal culture and the way in which these
personal cultural values can affect the way we interact
within our new culture. This is not only about
knowing how to protect the cultural rights of another
person, but also about ensuring that we feel safe
when operating outside the comfort zone of our own
cultural norms”. (Franklin, 2017)
 Process for Achieving Cultural Safety
• Cultural Awareness

• Cultural Sensitivity

• Cultural Safety

CULTURAL SAFETY

CULTURAL SENSITIVITY

CULTURAL AWARENESS
 Cultural Safety Principles
1. Stand back, be quiet, 7. Communication in
listen, hear and wait. practice is king.
2. Get to know the local 8. Don’t participate in
community. racist behaviour.
3. Be respectful at all 9. Learn to laugh at
times. yourself and with others.
4. Find a local cultural 10. The health status.
mentor for advice and
11. Community control.
guidance.
12. Be cognisant of the
5. Have an open heart. cycle of staffing.
6. Don’t assume you
know because you are
(Janie Dade Smith, 2007, pg. 69-71)
experienced.
 Cultural Safety Principles
• To reflect on your own practice is a critical
aspect of cultural safety practice.
• Need to minimise the power differentials
between yourself and your clients
• Engage in a conversation with the client to
learn a bit about them.
• Undertake a process of decolonisation.
• Ensure that you do not diminish, demean or
disempower others through your actions.
(Taylor & Geurin, 2010. pg 15)
 To improve service delivery and outcomes,
providers should know the client’s cultural views
on:

• Role of family (roles of members, hierarchy, key decision-

maker)
• Role of community
• Religion (impact on diet, beliefs about illness, treatment)
• Views on health and wellness
• Views on death and dying
• Eastern/western/alternative/traditional medicine.
• Beliefs about causes and treatments of illness, disease
(physical and mental)
• Gender roles and relationships
• Sexuality, fertility, childbirth
• Food beliefs and diet

http://www.callearning.com/blog/2012/07/10-cultural-factors-that-influence-
health-care/
 What can I do to be culturally safe?
• Understand that the values and beliefs of the dominant culture
shape the practice and attitudes of the individual and service
provider.
• Critical self-reflection – of the individuals on their practice.
Thinking about an incident that has happened, did it have a
good or bad outcome, how I handled it, what I should have
done, what can I do next time to ensure a good outcome?
• Understanding the impact of colonisation and dispossession,
and the historical and ongoing effects in Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander people’s everyday lives.

(Council of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives, 2017)
 What can I do to be culturally safe?
• Learning that cultural safety is the experience of the recipient
of care or service, it’s not defined by the service provider.
• Build relationships with your Aboriginal Colleagues and Elders.
Watch, Listen and ask for guidance. These people are the real
experts in their communities, not you.
• Exploring racism within the organisation and individually. Do
not participate in racism.

(Council of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives, 2017)
 Centre for Remote Health
Contact Details
• Email: crh@flinders.edu.au
• Web: http://www.crh.org.au
• Phone: +61 8 8951 4700
• Post: PO Box 4066
Alice Springs NT 0871
Australia
• Visit: Corner of Simpson St and
Skinner St, Alice Springs
A joint centre of
Flinders University and Charles Darwin University