Recognising the importance of culture

Critical Element

Culture “underpins and is integral to safety and wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children” (Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care, 2017, p. 2). This is why culturally safe service delivery begins with understanding the importance of culture in the lives of Aboriginal peoples. Culture is integral to a sense of identity as the First Peoples of Australia, and being connected to culture is a protective factor for Aboriginal children, young people and families (Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, 2021).

Recognition of the importance of culture and services that sustain a connection to culture is asserted in multiple cultural safety framework documents (see for example Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council, 2016; Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, 2021; Victorian Government, Health and Human Services, 2019) and statutory child protection policy frameworks such as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle (Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care, 2017).

Activities that service providers can implement to demonstrate that they value the culture of Aboriginal clients and the importance of culture for wellbeing that are identified in the literature include ensuring organisational spaces are welcoming to Aboriginal clients by displaying Aboriginal signage, artwork, and flag; commencing service events and gatherings with a welcome to country or an acknowledgement of country[1]; and incorporating Aboriginal history, language, stories and songs into services where appropriate (Freeman et al, 2014). 

Implementation activities include:

• Acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the traditional owners of the lands and waters of Australia.
• Mark organisational spaces and services as valuing First Nations cultures and welcoming to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients by displaying for example Aboriginal signage and artwork; incorporating Aboriginal history, language, stories and songs into services where appropriate.