Cultural Safety and Inclusion: Creating Culturally Safe Environments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Families

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families have the right to receive education and care services that affirm their identities, histories and cultures. Yet historical and ongoing systemic failures — including the legacy of the Stolen Generations, institutional racism and inadequate cultural responsiveness — mean that many services continue to cause unintentional harm. This course provides staff and volunteers in education and care settings across all Australian states and territories with the foundational knowledge, reflective tools and practical skills needed to create genuinely culturally safe environments. Participants will explore what cultural safety means in an education and care context, how it differs from cultural awareness and cultural competence, and why it matters for child wellbeing, engagement and outcomes. The course draws on the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, relevant state and territory child safe standards and frameworks, and the lived experience wisdom of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Modules address self-reflection, communication, environmental practice, community partnership, and responding to concerns in a culturally safe manner. This course is suitable for all staff and volunteers working in early childhood education and care, schools, out-of-school-hours care, vacation care, family day care, and other regulated education and care services. No prior knowledge of cultural safety is assumed. Completion of this course supports organisations to meet their obligations under relevant child safe standards and to demonstrate a genuine commitment to reconciliation and self-determination.