Strong cultural governance embraced at all levels of an organisation is critical to embedding cultural competence and building successful partnerships, according to the CEO of Hope Community Services, Merinda March.
Our CEO Learne Durrington recently sat down with Merinda to talk about the opportunities and challenges in becoming a culturally competent organisation.
The conversation was promoted by the recent launch of the first two of three foundational documents that will not only guide our organisation’s journey towards cultural competence, diversity and inclusion, but also serve as a resource and guidance for our commissioned service providers.
Merinda said Hope Community’s governance structure helps them to take a strong look at what they are doing and use as a lens to look through when making decisions.
Her three key takeaways were:
- Check your privilege at the door and know your unconscious bias
- Consult widely, listen and be prepared for uncomfortable truth telling
- Don’t make your Reconciliation Action Plan a tick box exercise – what gets measured, gets done.
WA Primary Health Alliance has published two guiding frameworks, being Aboriginal Cultural Competency and Capability Framework 2023-2025 and the LGBTIQA+ Equity and Inclusion Framework 2023-2025.
A third Framework, focusing on multicultural communities, is under development, is expected to launch later this year.