Note: We use Australia’s First Peoples and variants of this terminology as inclusive and representative of all Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.

We all like to feel safe. We remain loyal to what we know; people, places, and core values that uplift our spirits and guide and connect us. We surround ourselves with people who share our interests and worldviews, mould our environments to reflect our identities and values, and choose locations that keep us protected. Safety is a prerequisite to happiness, and cultural safety is essential to the holistic health and wellbeing of Australia’s First Peoples.

Cultural safety is about being open-minded and respecting the identities and customs of all people who are culturally different from yourself and/or most of society. Embedding cultural safety into your personal and organisational practice creates safe and welcoming environments where individuals thrive and form respectful and collaborative partnerships. Culturally safe practices and environments increase accessibility to health, education, and equitable outcomes while offering quality, holistic services.

The CSS team team sits within Corporate Services and uses a fee-for-service model to secure VACCHOs long-term sustainability in working towards our vision of vibrant, healthy, self-determining Aboriginal Communities.

These services are available to our Members and external organisations.