Building Culturally Safe Environments for Children and Young People
Creating culturally safe spaces is a key part of our commitment to child safety—and it starts with us. Under Child Safe Standard 1, we must ensure Aboriginal children and young people feel safe, respected, and empowered to express their identity and culture.
What Does Cultural Safety Mean?
It’s more than inclusion. Cultural safety is about:
- Supporting children to express their culture
- Challenging racism
- Embedding respect for Aboriginal identity in everything we do
Simple Actions You Can Take
Support Cultural Expression
- Encourage children to share their stories and identity
- Include Aboriginal perspectives in programs and communications
- Celebrate NAIDOC Week, National Sorry Day, and other key dates. Refer to the Commission for Children and Young People website -Days of importance for Aboriginal Communities
Create Welcoming Spaces
- Display Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags
- Use local artwork and language in signage
- Acknowledge Traditional Owners at meetings and events. Read more about Greater Dandenong's Official Acknowledgement of Country
Challenge Racism
- Adopt a zero-tolerance approach to racism in all policies and practices.
- Address incidents of racism promptly and appropriately.
- Provide training to help staff identify and confront unconscious bias. Read more at the Australian Human Rights Commission website - Let’s Talk Race: A Guide on how to conduct conversations about racism (2019).
Engage Families and Communities
- Consult with Aboriginal families and organisations
- Invite Elders to lead cultural activities.
- Visit Working with Bunurong Land Council
- Ensure policies reflect diverse family structures
Empower Children and Young People
- Involve Aboriginal children and young people in decisions and policymaking
- Create safe spaces for sharing ideas and concerns
- Respect privacy—never assume or disclose cultural background
Resources
Greater Dandenong City Council
- Read the Reconciliation Action Plan January 2021 - December 2023
- Watch YouTube video - Biladu-njan – ‘To Ask’ (Asking the question of Aboriginality)
Victorian Commission for Children and Young People (CCYP)
Read the following documents:
- Tips for creating a culturally safe environment - CCYP website
- Cultural safety for Aboriginal children (PDF - 435KB)
- Understanding cultural safety for Aboriginal children and young people (PDF - 11MB)
- Safety of children with a disability (PDF - 249KB)
- Safety of children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds (PDF - 229KB)
Other Resources
- Victorian Aboriginal and Local Government Strategy - Victorian Aboriginal and Local Government Strategy
- Maggolee website - Organisational Cultural Safety
- Victorian State Government website - Schools: Culturally safe environments guidance
- Keeping our Kids Safe: Cultural Safety and the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations