Cultural Safety for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People

This presentation provides a comprehensive overview of cultural safety, specifically focusing on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. It begins with a personal reflection on the author's experiences and understanding, emphasizing the importance of communication and cultural awareness. The presentation delves into historical impacts, including European settlement, health and disease, racism, and discrimination, highlighting the need for constitutional reform and the importance of law and kinship. It outlines key reforms, such as the granting of citizenship and voting rights, and discusses initiatives like the 'Close the Gap' campaign. Furthermore, the presentation explores strategies for closing the health gap, communication for support, evaluation of effectiveness, and the delivery of culturally safe health services. It emphasizes the significance of trust, respectful communication, and two-way dialogue in understanding and supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, referencing various academic sources and government websites. The presentation underscores the need for ongoing efforts to promote cultural safety and improve health outcomes within these communities.

MY HISTORY
• I am Phoebe Smith.
• I am an international student.
• During my high-school, I used to play rugby
• I had played some matches in Gold-coast of
Queensland, Australia.
• I interacted with the Aboriginal people during the
Rugby matches I played with the Murri Community.

UNDERSTANDING
My understanding was formed from the communication I have done
with the people of Murri community when I was residing there for
rugby matches. Further, Brad a good friend of mine with whom I used
to play rugby with is so close to me. He helped me in gaining
understanding of the Aboriginal and Torres Islander culture. This
knowledge which I gained from Brad changed my perspectives in a
positive manner for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. I
observed that like rest Australians they also possess right to get equal
opportunities for receiving health services and cultural safety.

HISTORICAL IMPACTS
The need for the constitutional reform for the aboriginal community is
required to enrich the identity of the nation and to protect the rights of all
the Australians. Further, this need is necessary for advancing the
reconciliation. The history of the Australian constitution changes is wider
in context to the changes associated with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander people.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

SOME REFORMS
 Some important constitutional changes relevant to the indigenous
people are as follows:
 1948: Tag of Australian Citizen was granted.
 1962: The commonwealth electoral act to give vote to all aboriginal
and Torres strait islander people.
 1967: Counting of the indigenous people in the national census.
 1991: The council for the Aboriginal reconciliation is established.
 2006: The "Close the gap" campaign to achieve equality in health
and life expectancy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
 2008: Apology of the present prime minister from the stolen
generation on behalf of Australian government and people.

"Close the gap"
The ways in which one can close the gap involves:
• By committing to the government and other major political parties to take actions
by signing the formal statement of intent.
• Providing additional funds for the betterment of the indigenous people to the
COAG.
• By having an intention to work with the NGOs and other organisation which are
working for providing health support to the indigenous people.
• By enhancing the meaning partnership between the indigenous and non-
indigenous communities to amplify the health services.
• The implementation of health support plan for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander people.
• Controlled health services for the Aboriginal community.
• Proper way to address the critical social issues that impact on the indigenous
health.

SPECIFIC IMPACTS
There are various fundamental long term impacts on Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander people because of some issues such as European
settlement, health and disease, racism and discrimination, importance
of law and kinship.

European Settlement
European Settlement: This agreement leads to severe impacts on the
aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The short term effects
includes the:
 Dispossession
 Disease
 Violent Conflict

European Settlement Cont.
Besides these, the long-term
effects of the European settlement
involves the following:
 Diseases
 Land
 Agriculture

Health and Disease
One of the biggest challenge that has been faced by the Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander people was introduction to the diseases which were
previously unknown. The effect was so severe that it accounted for
around sixty percent deaths of the indigenous people. However, a strong
resistance was observed in the Europeans of the diseases such as
bronchitises, measles, scarlet fever, etc.

Racism and Discrimination:
The effect of these factors on the health of the indigenous people involves
the:
• Reduced and limited access to the required health sources.
• Inequitable exposures to the outer environment that can assist in the
employment, education, medical care, etc.
• Assaults that leads to the medical injury
• Disengagement from the healthy activities.
• Negative impacts on the health such as stress and mental illness due to
the discrimination.

Importance of law and kinship in Aboriginal
communities
The laws for the indigenous people have provided them with the equal
opportunities. In addition to this, these regulations imposed by the
government are the major driver for their upliftment in the society. The
laws based on the cultural safety renders the indigenous community
with the health support which was no other way possible. Besides this,
different campaigns are also fruitful for gaining benefits for the
Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islander people.