GUIDELINES Cultural safety principles and guidelines
This resource proposes a set of principles to guide culturally safe practice when working with culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
As part of ANROWS’s Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Participatory Action Research (CALD PAR) initiative, a set of principles was developed with the aim of enabling an environment where cultural diversity is celebrated, and all participants feel safe to express their opinions openly. These principles are complemented by drawing upon the ANROWS code of conduct. While this resource builds upon the findings of the CALD PAR initiative, it is applicable across all cross-cultural work, and is particularly relevant for working with First Nations communities, as much of the literature on cultural safety is derived from that cross-cultural work.
Cultural safety principles:
- Critical reflection and inclusive dialogue
- Decolonising research
- Prioritising safe working practices.
This resource is useful for practitioners working cross-culturally as it provides guidance not only for best, but also for safe, practice. Cultural safety extends beyond cultural awareness and cultural sensitivity and asks service providers to reflect upon their own cultural identity so as to recognise the impact of their personal culture on their professional practice.
Suggested citation
Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety. (2018). Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Project with Action Research initiative: Cultural safety principles and guidelines. ANROWS.