Page 15 Aboriginal Cultural Competence CULTURAL SAFETY The Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) undertook research through surveys and interviews with Victorians (predominately Indigenous) to unpack the concept of cultural safety. Some of the responses to questions exploring the concept included: “Feeling safe in the knowledge that you’re listened to, that your contribution to the community is important, just as much as anyone else’s.” “Feeling safe in who you are... in your identity. Knowing that you’re a proud Indigenous person... taking strength in your culture through adversities.” “I think it’s being comfortable with yourself and being able to tell people that you’re proud to be of that culture and not feeling that you’re being discriminated against.” Some examples of cultural safety included: When asked if non-Indigenous environments created safety some responses included: “I don’t feel as comfortable as I think a white person feels.” “I felt outcast and alone in all white environments.” When asked about how a culturally safe place could help the community, responses included: “In so many ways. That’s an enriched environment...so many other environments, including Koori organisations are environments of poverty...cultural poverty, social poverty and in environments of enrichment people can grow and flourish.” “It affects the way I walk the land, having seen so much violence. It’s everything. Emotional, spiritual, everything. A place like that would be a place of healing for the whole community. It’d bring everyone together. Give us a future. Common heroes that connect us.” “By having a centre-point of pride and identity for the community. Give opportunities for people to get to know each other. Foster connection and belonging. Togetherness.” “To find and then be looked in the eyes by my Elders and be told, ‘You belong here’.” “Me giving myself permission to be an Aboriginal person. Not other people telling me who I should be or who I am.” “Having the sense of refuge in the middle of a storm.” “Feeling safe to be able to express yourself and being embraced by the rest of society.”
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