Celebrating NAIDOC Week - Culture at the heart of care

5 July 2025

CEC are celebrating NAIDOC Week. The theme The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy, celebrates not only the achievements of the past but the bright future ahead, empowered by the strength of young Aboriginal leaders, the vision of Aboriginal communities, and the legacy of ancestors.

Caron Shaw and Jacqui Sullivan

Part of CEC’s bright future are their staff. Caron Shaw and Jacqui Sullivan are passionate about bridging cultural barriers and delivering culturally safe healthcare to Aboriginal patients. Working as the Principal Aboriginal Clinical Safety and Cultural Advisor and Aboriginal Patient Safety Project Officer, together they drive transformative change in patient safety. Caron and Jacqui share, “As Aboriginal health professionals, our culture, values and ways of knowing are at the heart of how we care for our people. Reflecting on this is essential.”

Jacqui, Caron and the CEC’s Patient Safety team have developed Guidance for NSW Health staff on Aboriginal Cultural Engagement during the Open Disclosure Process. Open Disclosure is a process that ensures honest, empathic and timely discussions occur between patients, carers and staff after a patient safety incident. This guidance outlines how the process can be practiced sensitively with Aboriginal families.

“We created this resource because we’ve seen the harm that can occur when Open Disclosure is done without cultural understanding. For Aboriginal families, it’s not just about what’s said, it’s about who’s saying it, how it’s said, and whether their cultural obligations are respected. This guidance is about walking alongside our families with honesty, empathy and respect.”

Take a moment to read the guidance, it is full of insight and helpful understanding.