Cultural safety in healthcare

The provision of culturally safe care is essential to closing the gap in health inequalities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Cultural safety is an important aspect of professional practice in Australia and aligns with the Australian Dental Council’s commitment to ensuring dental practitioners provide safe, inclusive and equitable care for all members of the community.

The Melbourne Dental School has published an article that highlights the importance of cultural safety in delivering respectful, person-centred dental care and encourages practitioners to reflect on how culture, identity and lived experience can influence a patient’s healthcare journey.

We encourage candidates to read this article to deepen their understanding of cultural safety and its role in improving patient outcomes and fostering trust within diverse communities. Why cultural safety is core to dental care.