Cultural Safety Learning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People

This presentation delves into the lessons learned about improving cultural safety for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It begins with a personal reflection on the presenter's identity, background, and interactions with Aboriginal communities, highlighting the influence of historical policies and the importance of cultural understanding. The presentation discusses the implementation of cultural safety perspectives in various sectors, emphasizing principles such as social and restorative justice, Aboriginal self-determination, and negotiated partnerships. It also addresses the historical impacts of European settlement, including land dispossession, disease, and forced displacement, as well as the significance of milestones like the Commonwealth Electoral Act of 1962. Furthermore, the presentation explores challenges in healthcare, such as miscommunication and the need for trained interpreters and cross-cultural training. It concludes by outlining culturally safe health service requirements and the importance of incorporating indigenous groups in the healthcare system to bridge cultural gaps. Desklib provides a platform to access this presentation and many other resources.

Cultural Safety Framework
Student’s Name
Institution
Submission Date

Lessons About Improving Cultural Safety for
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People

My History
• I am a scholar from the Australian indigenous Aboriginal race
• Worked with a Child Safe Organization during part time
• My culture has firm belief on the Dreamtime
• We have been integrated and accepted within the societal setup
• Accorded the right to live in the Australian mainland

Interaction with the Aborigines
• I have lived among the Aborigines all my life
• Being part of the community, I am aware of the issues facing the
community
• The previous policies and practices by the Australian government did
not favor the indigenous people (Eckermann, Dowd & Chong 2010).

Knowledge about the Aborigines and Torres
Strait Islanders
• These cultures were formed by people who identify themselves as
indigenous and have been accepted by the society (Maclean, Ross,
Cuthill & Rist 2013).
• They are legally defined as Australians to the mainland or the Island of
Tasmania (Hallam, 2014).
• Interacted extensively with the community serving under the Child
Safe Organization.
• The course covers extensively on the community’s information.

Influences in diverse Environments
• Quite positive and empowering influences on the indigenous
communities
• Action by the government in the development and implementation of
National Principles for Child Safe Organizations which champion issues
encountered by the Aboriginal children (Lowell, et al 2012).
• Racial marginalization has been eliminated across all sectors of
representation and in health care

Workplace Cultural Safety
• Cultural Safety perspective has been implemented across several sectors
from institutions to the work environs (Hoare, 2014).
• Sense of belonging and acceptance is evident in my areas of operation.
• Cultural Safety is underpinned by several principles: Social and
Restorative perspectives, Aboriginal Self Determination, Negotiated
Partnership, Transparency, and Sustainability among others (Eckermann,
Dowd & Chong, 2010).
• Marginalized cultures are appreciated across all setups
• Cross-cultural training programs, policies, and workplace apparatuses
have been initiated

The Historical Impacts
• Intrigued by the Commonwealth Electoral Act of 1962
• The Act permitted the indigenous to enroll as voters
• The enactment of the Act was a turning point for the Aborigines and
the Torres Strait Islanders who had been sidelined for long following
the Australian Federation of 1901
• Resolution of human rights started long ago dating back to mid-19
century and persisted to mid-20th century when Menzies's
Government took office and brought reforms

Information from the Elders
• Had a privilege to meet Neville who once served in the 1970s federal
government.
• He was an indigenous Australian of the Aboriginal descent.
• Gained entry into office in 1971 under the Liberal party.
• Expressed his joy regarding the paradigm shift and the apparent
change of things which valued the livelihoods and appreciated the
culture of the indigenous people (Soole, Kolves & De Leo 2014).
• He was the first indigenous person to serve in Queensland Parliament.

Specific Long Term Impacts
• Constitutional amendments of 1901 failed to recognize the
marginalized communities
• The Constitution was not all-inclusive
• The rights of the indigenous communities were neglected
• Some of its provisions such as Clause 25 and 51 discriminated against
all indigenous communities

Impacts of European Settlement
• It was devastating and disrupted the normal way of life of the indigenous people.
• They dispossessed land and engaged the natives with violent conflicts resulting
to many deaths.
• Displacement led to drastic decline in their population count (Taylor, Nicolle &
Maguire, 2013).
• Disrupted their economic activities and source of income thereby exposing them
to malnourishment and eventual displacement into church missions and
government reserves.
• Reserves were closed due to overcrowding in 20th Century and the indigenous
communities were forced to move to towns (Soole, Kolves & De Leo, 2014).

Diseases
• The colonizers came along with severe European diseases.
• Such infections included influenza, measles, chickenpox, smallpox
among others (Shahid, et al 2013).
• The indigenous community lacked immunity and most of them
perished.