Leadership and partnership

Critical Element

Organisational leaders are responsible for embedding cultural safety within organisational governance, strategic planning, and program implementation, and for building long-term partnerships with Aboriginal communities and representatives (Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, 2021). Embedding cultural safety into all aspects of an organisation relies upon building effective partnerships between the service and Aboriginal clients and communities. Such partnerships ensure that program offerings can meet local community needs, and be informed by Aboriginal worldviews, as well as local expertise and knowledge.

Implementation activities include:

• Organisational leaders make a commitment to improving the long-term outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people, families and communities through prioritising their participation in accessible, high-quality early support that is trauma-informed and culturally-safe, and targeted to the specific needs of the client.
• Organisational leaders commit to enhancing the cultural safety of clients and actively model cultural safety expectations and behaviours for all staff.
• Recognise sectoral and organisational leaders of cultural safety and highlight their activities and share best-practice initiatives across the sector and organisation.
• Organisational leaders to adequately fund investment and resourcing for cultural safety initiatives and related service improvements including ongoing staff training and reflection, and conduct of a cultural safety audit.
• Seek, establish and maintain meaningful partnerships with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to support ongoing communication and the provision of services that address local needs.