Sisneros, Jose. “Chapter 2: Self-Awareness, Critical Reflectivity and Identity” In Critical Multicultural Social Work, 20-37. Chicago: Lyceum Books, 2008.Walker, Roz, Clinton Schultz and Christopher Sonn. “Chapter 12: Cultural Competence — Transforming Policy, Services, Programs and Practice”. In Working Together: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health and Wellbeing Principles and Practice, edited by Pat Dudgeon, Helen Milroy and Roz Walker, 195-220. 2nd ACT: Commonwealth of Australia, 2014. https://www.telethonkids.org.au/globalassets/media/documents/aboriginal-health/working-together-second-edition/working-together-aboriginal-and-wellbeing-2014.pdf

Cultural safety is about creating an environment that is safe for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This means there is no assault, challenge or denial of their identity and experience.Cultural safety is about:Shared respect, shared meaning and shared knowledgeThe experience of learning together with dignity and truly listeningStrategic and institutional reform to remove barriers to the optimal health, wellbeing and safety of Aboriginal people. This includes addressing unconscious bias, racism and discrimination, and supporting Aboriginal self-determinationIndividuals, organisations and systems ensuring their cultural values do not negatively impact on Aboriginal peoples, including addressing the potential for unconscious bias, racism and discriminationIndividuals, organisations and systems ensuring self-determination for Aboriginal people. This includes sharing power (decision-making and governance) and resources with Aboriginal communities. It's especially relevant for the design, delivery and evaluation of services for Aboriginal people.Key elements of culturally safe workplaces and servicesKnowledge and respect for self: Awareness of how one's own cultural values, knowledge, skills and attitudes are formed and affect others, including a responsibility to address their unconscious bias, racism and discrimination.Knowledge and respect for Aboriginal people: Knowledge of the diversity of Aboriginal peoples, communities and cultures, and the skills and attitudes to work effectively with them.A commitment to redesigning organisations and systems to reduce racism and discrimination: Strategic and institutional reform to remove barriers to optimal health, wellbeing and safety outcomes for Aboriginal people.Cultural safety is an ongoing learning journey: An ongoing and response learning framework that includes the need to unlearn unconscious bias and racism and relearn Aboriginal cultural values.Why is cultural safety important?Cultural safety is a fundamental human right. It's also a legislative requirement of public agencies to provide safety in the workplace.The workplace environment, services and settings for health, wellbeing and safety must be culturally safe for all people.For a fair and equitable society free from racism and discrimination, we must address the underlying causes of culturally unsafe practice.Everyone's responsibility?Everyone has a responsibility for the cultural safety of Aboriginal people in their organisation. Everyone is responsible for how they work with Aboriginal staff, health consumers and clients of community services.Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural safety frameworkThe Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural safety framework has been developed to help mainstream Victorian health, human and community services and the department to create culturally safe environments, services and workplaces.The framework provides a continuous quality improvement model to strengthen the cultural safety of individuals and organisations.It aims to help the department and mainstream health, human and community services to strengthen their cultural safety by participating in an ongoing learning journey.

Question 1Tips1 ptsIn this reading: Group of answer choicesBlair identifies the need for critical self-reflection, deep listening, dialogue and collaboration.Blair wants to ensure that non-Aboriginal children (while embracing their own national identity) find deeper respect for their own humanity and a sense of social justice through a profession that sees teachers as agents of change.Blair recommends that educators acknowledge and value patterns and triangles; different worldviews, different Aboriginal worldviews.All of these responses

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples perspectives of wellbeing incorporate:Note: Multiple answers allowed. Question 14Select one or more:a.Health outcomesb.Rights c.Social justiced.Equity

Discuss the importance of reflecting on cultural differences between western society and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, and provide four (4) examples of how educators can engage in this process.

Educators and SSOs play an important role in supporting children’s understanding of and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. In your own words, discuss the role of cultural competency and cultural responsiveness in promoting children’s understanding and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. In your response, provide six (6) strategies educators can use to promote cultural responsiveness within education and care services.