Culturally safe practice contributes to better health and life outcomes for everyone.

What's cultural safety?

Cultural safety is a transformative learning framework for non-Indigenous health professionals. A shift is created in their future practice with Indigenous patients, where reflective and decolonised practice prevents inadvertently resurfacing patients' past experiences of trauma, providing the opportunity to focus on patient-centred care.¹

Culturally safe practice requires health professionals to continually reflect on their biases, knowledge, skills, behaviours, and power dynamics to create environments free from racism for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, Māori, and Pacific peoples. ²

In health settings, delivering culturally safe care, which is determined by Indigenous patients, is crucial to patient-centred care. It means understanding and respecting patients’ culture and beliefs through reflection on practice by non-Indigenous health professionals. 

Why is cultural safety critical in health care settings?

Cultural safety isn't just a nice to have, the Cultural Safety framework is increasingly used in medical education. It guides health practitioners to critically reflect on their own biases and attitudes and supports achieving equity in health outcomes for Indigenous peoples. This approach was first developed in the 1990s by Irahapeti Ramsden, a Māori nurse and educator from Aotearoa New Zealand.

At the RACP, we're committed to ensuring a culturally safe and respectful environment for all Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, Māori and Pacific peoples. This priority is reflected in our Indigenous Object and the Indigenous Strategic Framework (PDF), and operational plans. Cultural safety is also a legal requirement under the National Law. 

The Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) and the Australian Medical Council (AMC) also advocate for a culturally safe medical workforce. Their education and accreditation standards make sure that doctors, both local and international, promote safe and respectful environments for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, Māori and Pacific peoples, including their colleagues, patients, and communities. 

You're the difference. Culturally safe practice contributes to better health and life outcomes for everyone.

Culturally safe supervision project

We recognise that high quality supervision contributes to better patient-centred care. Educational leaders and supervisors play a vital role in training the next generation of medical specialists and creating safe spaces where all trainees can thrive.

With this in mind, we have developed a comprehensive suite of educational resources to elevate the provision of culturally safe supervision across the healthcare sector.  

Guided by an Indigenous-led Working Group, and with funding from the Australian Government's Flexible Approach to Training in Expanded Settings (FATES) program, the College’s Culturally Safe Supervision Project offers practical tools to assist supervisors embed culturally safe practices in their supervision and create inclusive, supportive, and effective learning environments.

The resources draw on the insights and experiences of participating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander trainees and include:

• Webinars featuring presentations, panel discussions, and Q&As with trainees, subject matter experts, and supervisors.
• Video interviews, including a deep-dive conversation on “What is Culturally Safe Supervision” with Wendy Edmondson (RACP Marnu Wiru) and Dr Gavin Cleland (RACP Supervisor).
• Case-based video scenarios with supporting materials to encourage critical self-reflection and discussion about the impact of culturally safe supervision on health service delivery, trainee wellbeing, and retention.
• A library of supplementary readings, tools, and frameworks to support ongoing learning.

The RACP and other specialist medical college members can access these resources through the Culturally Safe Supervision Hub on RACP Online Learning.
Non-RACP members can access them by selecting “Guest” and creating an account.

Fellows of the RACP and other Colleges can claim CPD Category 1: Educational Activities for engaging with the resources.

References

¹ A critical reflection on the concept of cultural safety, Gerlach (2012), Assessing cultural safety in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Edmondson & Ryder (2014).
² Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Anti-Racism Policy.
³ Guidance resource: Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health and cultural safety standards (PDF)

Further information about the Culturally Safe Supervision Resources is available in the promotional brochure.

For questions about the Culturally Safe Supervision Project or cultural safety, email: digital.learning@racp.edu.au