Require services to conduct cultural safety reviews and action plans

To ensure a consistent approach across all government funded health and human services organisations, Family Safety Victoria (FSV) has adopted the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Safety Framework, to implement recommendation 148.

The Cultural Safety Framework provides a continuous quality improvement model for culturally responsive services and aims to reduce racism and discrimination by improving cultural safety. The Cultural Safety Framework will include 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.

Strengthening Cultural Safety of Family Violence Services is a state-wide project which ensures mainstream family violence organisations are supported to undertake cultural safety assessments and action plans in all areas of operation, governance, workforce and relationships with community. The project is supported by the DFFH, Family Safety Victoria (FSV), and the Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS).

The DFFH, with the support of the DJCS and FSV, have commenced the roll-out of the Cultural Safety Framework in a staged approach over 3 years.

• Phase 1 – 2019: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Safety Framework launched
• Phase 2 – 2020: Engaged the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) to deliver the Strengthening Cultural Safety of Family Violence Services project The project will develop key standards and measures to help individuals and organisations track their growth – aimed at improvement development.

Phase 2 – 2020: DFFH to Co-design fee-for-service model to support the ongoing delivery of the Strengthening Cultural Safety program.

• Phase 3 – 2021: organisations will be required to meet and be measured against cultural safety standards – aimed at accountability and compliance.

In developing sector-based implementation plans, DFFH will work with mainstream funded agencies and Aboriginal organisations to refine and establish cultural safety accountability requirements.

In developing sector-based implementation plans, the department will work with mainstream funded agencies and Aboriginal organisations to refine and establish cultural safety accountability requirements.

• The Cultural Safety Framework (Part 1) (PDF) and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Safety continuum reflective tool (Part 2)(PDF) is available on both the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) website and intranet sites.
• Approximately $17.7 million was allocated through the 2017-18 State Budget to build and support the Aboriginal workforce. This investment included funding for the Strengthening the Cultural Safety of Family Violence Services Project (Strengthening the Cultural Safety Project) which commenced in 2018.
• The Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) was successful in developing the Strengthening Cultural Safety Framework Project, and additional funding was provided to ten Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) to undertake cultural safety reviews, develop action plans and deliver training aligned to the Cultural Safety Framework.
• Through this project Aboriginal Cultural Safety Advisor positions were created for two years within Aboriginal organisations across the State. These positions 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 Strengthening Cultural Safety in Family Violence Services Assessment Tool has been developed to support the Strengthening Cultural Safety of Family Violence Services project and aligns with the Cultural Safety Framework and the Dhelk Dja: Safe Our Way – Strong Culture, Strong Peoples, Strong Families 10 Year Agreement.

In 2021-22 the Strengthening the Cultural Safety Project will commence delivery in The Orange Door networks to support the acquittal of the Victorian Auditor-General Office (VAGO) Recommendation 4: DHHS works with local Aboriginal services and community representatives to roll out mandatory cultural safety training that is specific to hub functions and operations, for all hub staff.

Implemented.