Leading from the front and the ground up: Cultural change in CHSP services – Connecting with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and Elders
Written by Katie Buddle, Sector Support Coordinator
Forum overview
Leading from the front and the ground up was a two-part forum for Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) leaders – focusing on understanding the Statement of Rights in the Aged Care Act 2024 and supporting leaders to consider how they can strengthen and deliver culturally safe, culturally appropriate, trauma-aware and healing-informed aged care services. The forum is an activity of the CHSP Sector Support and Development Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Working Group, led by Social Futures and Your Side.
Session one was delivered on 26 November 2024 and featured a keynote presentation from Andrea Kelly, Interim First Nations Aged Care Commissioner – reflecting on her conversations with Elders and community across the Australian continent and what is needed to strengthen cultural safety.
Session two was delivered on 18 February 2025. Speakers Bradlee Commins (BC Consulting) and Danielle Ballantine (CEO, Your Side) worked previously together to increase workforce outcomes and improve cultural safety at BreakThru.
Summary of key themes
Deep listening supports cultural safety through understanding and respecting an older person’s needs, cultural practices and connection to family and country.
Embedding cultural safety requires a whole of organisation approach and an understanding of the ongoing traumatic legacy of colonisation that can shape mistrust of services. Andrea emphasized the importance of ongoing engagement at a personal and organisational level and the value of learning from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Practicing cultural humility and accountability
Walk beside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities – not in front of them – accepting that mistakes will happen and encouraging a culture of active and willing learning that is grounded in genuine relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
General cultural safety training can support local connections and learning opportunities
Engaging in general online cultural safety training can foster cultural humility and support initiating and developing relationships with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, organisations and services. Local relationships are key to connecting with learning opportunities and training resources that are culturally appropriate to your service areas.
Embedding cultural change through grassroots leadership
Create space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees and community members to lead discussions and shape the approach, rather than imposing a framework from the outset.
Building deep relationships and trust with community before focusing on outcomes
Leaders need to be present, listen without agenda, and engage consistently – not just when something is needed or when it benefits them.
Changing recruitment practices to grow a culturally safe workforce
For example, focusing on recruiting through relationships rather than relying on mainstream job-seeking platforms, valuing lived experience alongside education and employment history, and peer-supported interviews.
Strengthening cultural competence (and staff retention) through ongoing learning and cultural supervision
Provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff with cultural supervision to manage cultural load and ensure ongoing opportunities to build cultural knowledge through connection to community and Elders.
Cultural safety community of practice
Forum participant feedback highlighted the value of connecting with others who are committed to this work and being part of a space where the importance of cultural safety is elevated.
If you are interested in continuing this conversation as part of an ongoing commitment to change, please click (here) to register your interest in a new Community of Practice. A member of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sector Support Working Group will be in touch with more details.
Resources
- Transforming Aged Care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (easy to understand format)