Alfred Mental and Addiction Health\u00a0(AMAH)\u00a0staff,\u00a0including clinicians and lived\/living experience workers,\u00a0gathered at the Victorian Pride Centre to launch the new Cultural Safety Equity and Access\u00a0(CSEA)\u00a0Strategic Direction 2026-2028.<\/p>\n
Grounded in cultural humility and developed in direct response to recommendations from the Royal Commission into Victoria\u2019s Mental Health System, the Strategic Direction sets out a roadmap for embedding culturally responsive practices across leadership, governance, workforce development, community\u00a0engagement\u00a0and service delivery.\u00a0<\/p>\n
AMAH Senior Lead, Cultural Safety, Equity and Access, Erin Joyce said the strategy not only provides a clear pathway to achieving its\u00a0outcomes, but\u00a0also challenges common assumptions about how those outcomes should be delivered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is a misconception that creating a culturally safe, equitable and accessible environment requires individuals to master knowledge of all cultures and lived experiences beyond their own,\u201d Erin said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOur Strategic Direction makes clear that this expectation of cultural competence is both unrealistic and places unnecessary pressure on staff.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cInstead, our focus is\u00a0on cultivating and embedding cultural humility across all roles and levels of our\u00a0service.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
AMAH Cultural Safety, Equity and Access Advisor\u00a0Taff Ruvaro said cultural humility positions healthcare workers\u00a0as learners, rather than authorities on the care needs of consumers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCultural humility\u00a0is an approach that\u00a0orients\u00a0us\u00a0as mental and addiction health\u00a0workers\u00a0to be\u00a0curious\u00a0and receptive to the experiences of\u00a0consumers,\u201d Taff said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt directs us to\u00a0listen\u00a0so that we can add to our understanding\u00a0of\u00a0their needs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“It\u2019s an incredibly powerful approach when you consider that trust,\u00a0safety\u00a0and connection underpin recovery.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The AMAH CSEA Strategic\u00a0Direction\u00a02026-28\u00a0outlines four strategic pillars which provide direction for action,\u00a0establish\u00a0benchmarks for success, and create a framework for continuous progress.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cEach pillar\u00a0has an overarching goal, broken into a set of clearly outlined objectives,\u201d Erin said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cEach objective\u00a0details an\u00a0accompanying rationale, measures of success, an accountable lead,\u00a0strategic\u00a0allies\u00a0and expected outputs.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Together, the pillars are designed to focus efforts, guide\u00a0decision-making\u00a0and ensure consistent progress is made across all areas of the Alfred Mental and Addiction Health system.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Speaking at the launch, Program Director A\/Prof Simon Stafrace said AMAH\u2019s continued\u00a0efforts to best position itself to\u00a0deliver\u00a0equitable,\u00a0inclusive\u00a0and culturally responsive mental and addiction health services\u00a0demonstrates\u00a0its position as a system leader.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cToday matters, and this document matters, because we are naming the challenge clearly,\u201d A\/Prof Stafrace said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’re saying that cultural safety,\u00a0equity\u00a0and access are not peripheral concerns.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThey’re not special projects and\u00a0they’re\u00a0not the responsibility of a single committee, a\u00a0portfolio\u00a0or a passionate group of people.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are core business.\u201d<\/p>\n