Child Safe Standard 1 - Cultural safety for Aboriginal children

Standard 1

Voice Over: Standard 1 - Cultural safety for Aboriginal children.

Displayed on screen: (Standard 1 - Relevant entities establish a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are respected and valued.)

Nicole McCartney, Chief Aboriginal Health Adviser speaking to camera: Being connected to culture can lead to better emotional, social and physical health outcomes for Aboriginal children. That’s why it’s important to create a culturally safe environment and to support whilst we continue to encourage each child to express their culture in their own way. Valuing and respecting the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children leads to a culturally safe environment.

Voice Over (and displayed on screen): To comply with Standard 1 your organisation must meet the following five minimum requirements:

• A child’s ability to express their culture and enjoy their cultural rights is encouraged and supported.
• Strategies are embedded within the organisation which help everyone to acknowledge and appreciate the strengths of Aboriginal culture and to understand its importance to the wellbeing and safety of Aboriginal children.
• Measures are adopted by the organisation to ensure racism is identified, confronted, and addressed with appropriate consequences.
• The organisation actively supports and facilitates participation and inclusion by Aboriginal children and their families. 
• All of the organisation’s policies, procedures, systems and processes together create a culturally safe and inclusive environment which meet the needs of Aboriginal children and their families.

Nicole McCartney, Chief Aboriginal Health Adviser speaking to camera: To know if your organisation is meeting Standard 1, ask yourself the following questions:

• Is cultural safety embedded in your organisational practices?
• How does your organisation create opportunities and encourage children to express their culture and identity?
• And would the community recognise that your organisation is a culturally safe environment?

Voice Over (and displayed on screen): For more information on Child Safe Standards visit the department’s website.