New Cultural Safety Framework

Published on Wednesday, 8 May 2024 at 11:35:40 PM

Wunan Foundation has established an ‘Aboriginal Cultural Safety Framework’ as a fundamental blueprint for cultural safety across the organisation. This initiative, funded by the WA Primary Health Alliance, marks an important moment in Wunan’s commitment to embedding cultural safety practices across its operations.

The development of the Cultural Safety Framework was facilitated by Abstarr Consulting, engaging Wunan employees in an inclusive process to identify Wunan's ‘Cultural Safety Values’, including honesty, transparency, integrity, collaboration, and openness. The culmination of this collaborative effort was a final workshop conducted in August 2024, where the framework and implementation plan were presented.

Dr. Stephanie Trust, Chairperson of the Cultural Safety Framework Committee, expressed her excitement, "Wunan is dedicated to delivering services where people feel respected and safe. With this framework, we are taking a significant step forward in further embedding cultural safety practices into everything we do."

The framework focuses on four key domains: building a strong, vibrant, and culturally safe workforce; embedding culturally strong and place-based practices; enabling continuous quality improvement; and fostering effective communication and leadership. It represents a commitment to creating an environment where everyone feels respected, valued, and understood.

By adopting this framework, Wunan Foundation aligns with national and state reforms, including the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and the State Public Health Plan for Western Australia. Implementation will be comprehensive, with a plan in place to ensure successful delivery and alignment with organisational goals.

Shay Wilson, People and Services Manager at Wunan Foundation, echoed this sentiment, “The introduction of this framework has been long awaited. Ensuring that we are actively enhancing cultural safety within the organisation and beyond is a significant achievement, positioning us firmly among best practice standards.”

“The leadership demonstrated by the Cultural Safety Framework Committee has been amazing, with a strong focus on empowerment and embedding the framework into our daily operations. It's inspiring to witness and fills my liyarn to be part of this journey.”

"We are grateful for the input and support of our staff throughout this process, and we are excited about the positive impact this framework will have on our organization and the communities we serve. In addition, we are thankful for the support of James Carpenter, Senior Contracts Officer of WAPHA, as he was instrumental in us obtaining the funding." concluded Dr. Stephanie Trust, Chairperson of the Committee.

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