Cultural Safety Training

Moorundi Cultural Safety Training is an initiative designed to foster deeper empathy and understanding among professionals working in the health and education sector. This training program has been accredited for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP). Participants from other professions may wish to self-report or confirm eligibility with their respective professional bodies.

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How Cultural Awareness differs from Cultural Safety?

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• Cultural awareness is about developing knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal histories, values, beliefs, and experiences, and recognising and accepting that cultural differences exist.

• Cultural safety goes further — it focuses on creating an environment where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples feel safe, respected, and free from challenges or denial of their identity, while fostering genuine listening, shared learning, and dignity in all interactions.

 

Why Cultural Safety Matters

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Cultural safety is recognised across national policies as essential to delivering equitable care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The Royal Commission into Aged Care recommended culturally safe support and care and regular training about cultural safety for all staff (Recommendations 3, 48 and 49). The National Scheme’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Cultural Safety Strategy 2020-2025 led by AHPRA and the National Boards defines cultural safety as a critical component of patient safety, led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices.

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Aspiring to be Cultural Safe

 

Achieving cultural safety requires more than awareness — it calls for active, ongoing change. The Closing the Gap Agreement highlights that genuine partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and organisations are essential to improving the cultural safety and quality of mainstream services. Similarly, the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards emphasise the need for continuous quality improvement processes to embed cultural safety across health service organisations.

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About the Developer

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Moorundi Cultural Safety Training has been developed by Diana Murphy, a Registered Nurse, Midwife, and formerly a Registered Psychiatric Nurse and Director of Nursing. Diana brings over 55 years of experience working in healthcare across rural, remote, and metropolitan settings in South Australia. She is also a Dr Margaret Tobin Award recipient in 2005 for Aboriginal Award – excellence in the provision of mental health services for those most in need or most at risk and finalist in 2012, and honourable mention of the 2003 Country Services Excellence Award for the Remote Indigenous Mental Health Project.

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Diana’s wealth of knowledge and practical insight underpins the training’s unique and deeply impactful approach. The Ngarrindjeri co-facilitators maintain Cultural Authority throughout the process and share their wealth of knowledge with participants.

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Program Overview

 

Moorundi Cultural Safety Training moves beyond traditional diversity education by immersing participants in the lived experiences of people seeking care from healthcare providers, and the families of those seeking care. It offers a powerful and thought-provoking experience designed to cultivate advanced empathy, with a focus on power dynamics and systemic issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

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Topics Covered

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• Understanding Cultural Safety
  The role of Cultural Safety in improving service access and engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

• Historical and Ongoing Impacts
  The legacy of colonisation and its continuing effects on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and communities.

• Trauma-Informed Practice
  Principles of trauma-informed care that acknowledge the impact of historical and intergenerational trauma.

• Respectful Terminology and Diverse Identities
  The use of appropriate language and appreciation for the diversity within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

• Equity and Self-Determination
  The essential roles of equity and community self-determination in achieving culturally safe care.

• Foundational Skills for Practice
  Practical skills and knowledge to integrate Cultural Safety into everyday service delivery.

• Building Respectful Relationships
  Strategies for fostering culturally responsive, respectful, and meaningful relationships with communities.

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Delivery & Pricing

 

Moorundi Cultural Safety Training is delivered face-to-face over 3.5 hours and is suitable for group sizes ranging from 5 to 20 participants. It is designed for anyone working in healthcare or community services, including:

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• General Practitioners

• Nurses and Allied Health Professionals

• Aboriginal Health Workers and Practitioners

• Clinical Managers

• Health Administrators

• Support Staff

• Policy Makers

• Educators

• Sporting Clubs

• Other service providers and staff seeking to expand their cultural understanding

 

Cultural Safety Training – Pricing Structure

 

Individual Sign-Up

 

Category                                               Price (per person) Conditions

Concession (Student / Low Income) $120                        Individual sign-up only

​Individual (Standard Rate)                 $250                        Individual sign-up only

 

Organisation Sign-Up

 

Category                                               Flat Fee (per          Conditions  
                                                              workshop)               

 

Not-for-Profit Organisation                $1,500                     Up to 15 participants; flat fee covers full
                                                                                               group

 

Government / For-Profit                     $3,000                    Up to 15 participants; flat fee covers full
                                                                                               group
Organisation

 

To discuss your training needs and to book a workshop, please contact:
admin@macchs.org.au

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Example Workshop: A Journey of Role and Reflection

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This workshop provides a unique and engaging opportunity for participants to explore the different roles and values within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Through structured activities and discussions, participants reflect on how their perspectives and decisions can influence culturally safe practices.

• Discussion Groups
  Small group activities exploring different community roles and their associated values.

• Exploring Alternatives
  Examination of alternative approaches and how changes in attitudes and systems can lead to better outcomes.

• Debrief and Reflection
  A guided group discussion to share insights and key learnings, reinforcing ways to strengthen relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

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Participants are supported to explore their own thinking and discover how new insights can benefit both themselves and their organisations.

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Testimonials

 

“This was a fantastic session that got everyone thinking and involved” June 2025

“Interaction was awesome. Listening, understanding reactions and having more empathy. It has been eye opening” June 2025

“Thank you so much for such a great session, really valuable and a lot of insights which I’ll definitely be taking with me. Interactive training always scares me, but this was the perfect amount, never a dull moment and I definitely felt very safe throughout it all. Would be great to make this training mandatory in all workplaces!” November 2023.

“I would recommend this workshop, absolutely leaves an impact. Brings you out of your comfort zone see things from different perspectives. Love it!” May 2025

 “Thank you so much for sharing this amazing Cultural Safety Training with us. The role plays really highlighted the truth that Indigenous people face. I was extremely saddened and reminded of my own past. This training has changed me to be a warrior for Cultural awareness.” November 2023.

“I am very pleased to feedback the importance of and benefit I received from the Cultural Safety Programme I undertook at Moorundi in September 2022. The method of “taking” us through time and then working in groups to put ourselves at the historical time and place was very powerful and emotionally challenging. I felt as though I was changed by the experience, even though I had thought of myself as reasonably culturally informed and sensitive. There was a real sense of connection made between us, the participants. I would highly recommend this training”. GP September 2022.

“The role playing is something everybody generally dreads but I enjoyed – yes I said enjoyed this type of role playing, it has more impact on what I’m learning” June 2025

“The interactive was beneficial and more immersive than online or readings” June 2025

“Thank you for this experience. I found it very valuable and quite eye opening. Role playing and thinking practically about how a specific scenario could be improved was an effective way of getting me to think more deeply about the challenges faced and what needs to change to improve the well-being of Aboriginal Elders in care. Beyond this these learnings could also be applied to other common scenarios in society, (schools, offices, government services etc.). Thank you!” November 2023. 

“For someone who hates role play, it was great to feel comfortable getting up in front of the group as it was a very relaxed environment. Great training” June 2025