Require services to conduct cultural safety reviews and action plans

Slot gameThe Department of Health and Human Services has developed an Aboriginal Cultural Safety Framework to assist mainstream Victorian health and human services and the department to develop culturally safe environments, services and workplaces. The Aboriginal Cultural Safety Framework is a key commitment in the Department’s Aboriginal Employment Strategy 2016-2021 and Korin Korin Balit-Djak: Aboriginal health, wellbeing and safety strategic plan 2017-2027.

Slot gameFamily Safety Victoria will support the implementation of the Cultural Safety Framework across mainstream family violence organisations to include a cultural safety requirement. Work will also be undertaken with mainstream family violence organisations to ensure ongoing compliance with cultural safety reviews and action plans.

DHHS has developed an Aboriginal Cultural Safety Framework. As a key commitment in Korin Korin Balit-Djak: Aboriginal Health Wellbeing and Safety Strategic Plan 2017-2027 and Wungurilwil Gapgapduir: Aboriginal Children and Families Agreement Strategic Action Plan is to ensure compliance against cultural competency, requirements will be assessed by Aboriginal people and/or Aboriginal organisations.

The Framework will provide a continuous quality improvement model for culturally responsive services and aims to reduce racism and discrimination by improving cultural safety for Aboriginal employees in the department and for all Aboriginal people accessing and working in health, human and community services. The Framework includes practical implementation tools to guide organisations and individuals to enhance their relationships with Aboriginal organisations and help organisations develop and embed cultural safety into all areas of operations, governance and workforce.

The 2017/18 State Budget allocated $95.4 million (over four years) for a whole of government approach to workforce and industry planning to strengthen the capacity of family violence and other social service sectors to prevent and respond to family violence. Approximately $17.8 million has been allocated to:

• build and upskill the Aboriginal workforce
• support Aboriginal service providers to undertake workforce planning and development to meet the demands of current reforms
• improve access to appropriate cultural supports and specialised training to reduce the impacts of vicarious trauma and support worker health and wellbeing

Slot gameThis investment includes funding for the Strengthening the Cultural Safety of Family Violence Services Project (Strengthening the Cultural Safety Project). Through this project Aboriginal Cultural Safety Advisor positions have been created for 2 years within Aboriginal organisations across the State.

The Strengthening the Cultural Safety Project commenced in 2018, with Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) successful in receiving funding to provide statewide coordination of the project and recruit four cultural safety advisors. The Cultural Safety Advisors will provide advice to mainstream family violence organisations on taking action to embed cultural safety for Aboriginal Victorians. The project will also develop a suite of resources to support a consistent approach for cultural safety reviews, action plan development and cultural safety training across family violence organisations. The successful Aboriginal community controlled organisations (ACCOs) for the Strengthening the Cultural Safety Project are VACCA, Djirra, Gippsland and East Gippsland Aboriginal Co-Operative, Ramahyuck, Wathaurong, Gunditjmara, Ballarat District Aboriginal Co-operative, Rumbalara, Bendigo and District Aboriginal Co-operative and Mungabareena.

Forecast implementation date: 30 June 2021