Danila Dilba - Cultural Safety Position Statement

Danila Dilba - Cultural Safety Position Statement
Organizational Background
Danila Dilba started working as a community controlled aboriginal health service in
the year 1970 during the time of great activism for all the indigenous people of Australia.
However, the Danila Dilba health service was founded in the year 1991. It is a safe and
comfortable place for the aboriginal people of Australia who find solution for different health
concerns. The health service provided by the organization is holistic and friendly to all the
people from indigenous community and thus the establishment of the organization is a great
feeling of pride and achievement for those people of indigenous community. It is basically an
aboriginal community controlled organization that provides comprehensive primary
healthcare and community services to the people of Torres Strait Island which is culturally
appropriate (Danila Dilba Health Service, n.d.).
The main mission of the organization is to improve mental, physical, spiritual,
cultural as well as social wellbeing of the aboriginal community through some innovative,
comprehensive primary healthcare programs. The core value of Danila Dilba is to support
workplace culture, based on integrity, transparency, honesty, fairness and accountability. The
organization also consults with clients, and other stakeholders regarding its improvement
programs and opportunities for further improvement of the organization.
Danila Dilba Health Service (DDHS) is the only aboriginal community controlled
health service in Darwin. In the region, catering to the population of Torres Strait Island, the
organization has seven clinics. The recent activities of DDHS have been able to provide 80%
improved health outcome of the aboriginal people.
The position of Danila Dilba Health Service

 It is a leading aboriginal controlled health organization that uses evidence as
well as knowledge about client and community needs in order to influence the
policy and service improvements.
 The organization develops and maintains formal as well as informal alliances
that bring all the indigenous and non-indigenous together to address the social
determinants of health.
 Works in partnership and continue to establish and improve trusted and
respectful relationships with the aboriginal people of that area.
 The effective governance and management ensure that the organization is
engaged with skill-based board and strong management team.
 It works on the basis of strong evidences that ensure right information is being
collected and analyzed for the system improvement.
 The organization establishes partnership and conducts research in order to fill
the gaps in knowledge and to identify the best practice approaches for the
service improvements (Danila Dilba Health Service, 2017).

Rationale
Importance of position statement in providing culturally safe healthcare environment
The main idea of cultural safety always involves the empowerment of the healthcare
providers and the patients. Culturally safe behaviour indicates the open-minded and flexible
attitudes towards the people irrespective of their culture and race. It is also concerned with
the power relationship between the nurses and those who are in care. Developing cultural
safety involves cultural reflective practice. Sometimes, due to cultural differences, the quality
of care is hampered and people from some specific cultures such as aboriginal or the people
of Torres Strait Islands are more likely to be the sufferer. Establishing a culturally safe
environment in the healthcare system always promotes quality of care irrespective of the race,
ethnicity and culture. Here, the position statements of the organization strongly affirm that
the cultural belief of the indigenous people will not be hampered and a respectful healthcare
delivery service will be provided to all the aboriginal people. At the same time it also ensures
the people from aboriginal community that they will receive services as per the international
human right and an improved healthcare outcome. The community-centred nature of Danila
Dilba is focused to maintain a good relationship with all the patients and the care
environment is completely free from racism. The statements will help the indigenous people
to keep faith on their services (Danila Dilba Health Service, 2017).
The importance of effective communication in the provision of culturally safe
environment
A culturally safe communication always demonstrates an understanding as well as respect for
individuals which is helpful in promoting the satisfaction of the patients and their families.
Through the help of verbal communication, a clinician can identify the needs of the patient
and according to that the care is specified. Also, according to literatures, clinicians who are