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Launch of Cultural Safety Framework to improve health services for Aboriginal People

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Western NSW Primary Health Network’s (WNSW PHN) commitment towards the development of culturally safe models of care will be highlighted on Friday, 18 August with the official launch of their Cultural Safety Framework.

The event will be held at 428 Argent Street in Broken Hill (10:30 to 12:30) in partnership with Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation, a leading provider of health and social programs for communities in Western NSW, some of which are funded by WNSW PHN. 

The Cultural Safety Framework will be officially launched by the Hon Ken Wyatt AM, MP, Minister for Aged Care and Minister for Indigenous Health.

Cultural safety in healthcare means designing and providing services that meet the needs of patients through a process of self-reflection, awareness of cultural biases and processes to actively respond in a way that will benefit the patient’s health and wellbeing.

WNSW PHN plays a leadership role in the development of culturally safe models of care to ensure access to quality health care and wellbeing programmes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. WNSW PHN’s Aboriginal Health Council has played a key role in the preparation of the Cultural Safety Framework.

Embedding a cultural safety process in WNSW PHN’s commissioning of health services plays an important role in Closing the Gap between the health outcomes for Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal People in Western NSW.  

“The framework provides information and a comprehensive self-assessment evaluation tool to enable primary health care service providers to progress towards achieving cultural safety”, says Andrew Harvey, WNSW PHN Chief Executive Officer.

“It enables our organisation and service providers to positively influence the health and wellbeing, quality of life, future aspirations and prosperity of Aboriginal individuals, families and communities within the WNSW PHN region”, continued Mr Harvey.

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