Newcastle researcher awarded $838,000 to lead national cultural safety project

Newy 87.8 FM – A University of Newcastle and HMRI researcher has been awarded an $838,000 grant to lead a national project aimed at reducing racism and discrimination in healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients.

Dr Elissa Elvidge received the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) partnership grant to roll out the initiative across primary care settings, including GP clinics, telehealth services and specialist outreach clinics.

The project will test the Cultural Safety Scale (CSS2), a tool that measures how well health services meet the cultural needs of Indigenous patients. Developed by Dr Elvidge and her team, it was piloted in hospital settings.

"A lack of culturally safe care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people results in poorer healthcare experiences, psychological distress, inequitable access, reduced quality of care, delayed presentation for care, avoidance of health services and disparities in health outcomes," Dr Elvidge said.

The results will be used to improve national cultural safety standards and guide health policy.

Torres Strait Islander woman and University of Newcastle Senior Lecturer Dr Karen Nicholls said co-creation would be critical to the project's effectiveness.

"This project is not being done to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, it is being done with us and led by us," Dr Nicholls said.

Community members, Aboriginal health professionals and Indigenous peak organisations will participate through community advisory groups, steering committees and co-design processes.

Join the discussion on Facebook.