Culturally safe service provision fact sheet - Disability Services Inclusion Act 2023

Disability Services and Inclusion Bill 2023

People with disability from culturally or linguistically diverse backgrounds are more likely to face barriers when accessing support services. This is sometimes referred to as compound disadvantage. The intersection of a person’s disability with their cultural or linguistic background may affect their needs, preferences, or expectations about service delivery.

Under the Disability Services and Inclusion Act 2023, service providers must meet the needs of people with disability, including those who may experience compound disadvantage.

Culturally safe practice means providing an environment that is spiritually, socially, emotionally and physically safe for people. There should be no assault, challenge or denial of their identity, of who they are and what they need. Culturally safe practice is about shared respect, shared meaning, shared knowledge and experience of learning together. A culturally safe service provider should reflect on their own cultural identity. They should also recognise the impact of their personal culture on their professional practice.

The following are some guiding principles for promoting cultural safety.

• Respect cultural diversity and understand the value of differing perspectives.
• Understand our own assumptions, beliefs and attitudes and their impact on others.
• Lead by example by being culturally responsive and adopting cultural safety frameworks. This should occur at all levels of service provision and management
• Recognise the impact of dominant cultures and privilege. Establish respectful and equal partnerships in decision-making.
• Take a strengths-based approach to engagement. Engagement strategies should be a cultural match with individuals and communities.
• Setting and achieving shared goals and targets in cultural responsiveness.

Further Resources

Please visit the following web pages for further information and guidance material.