Research, and ongoing monitoring and evaluation is identified in a number of policy frameworks as foundational to culturally safe service delivery (see for example Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, 2021; Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council, 2016; Government of South Australia, 2016; Western Health Alliance, 2016). Our review of the academic literature highlights a gap between policy statements and implementation, with cultural safety still emerging as a research topic in its own right, and the researchers identifying fewer studies than anticipated. Some research confirms the critical need to monitor progress in cultural safety (see for example Gubhaju et al, 2020).
The research literature provides little guidance on effective ways to monitor cultural safety, except to assert that organisations should evaluate the effectiveness of cultural safety training programs (Menzies & Grace, 2020). Service providers, however, are well placed to contribute to the sparse evidence base as cultural safety is often identified as a system outcome (see for example the TEI Outcomes Framework (NSW Government, 2019) where identifying outcomes indicators in consultation with Aboriginal clients and community representatives is the suggested starting point).
25 Mar 2022
We acknowledge Aboriginal people as the First Nations Peoples of NSW and pay our respects to Elders past, present, and future.
Informed by lessons of the past, Department of Communities and Justice is improving how we work with Aboriginal people and communities. We listen and learn from the knowledge, strength and resilience of Stolen Generations Survivors, Aboriginal Elders and Aboriginal communities.
You can access our apology to the Stolen Generations.