NZAO STATEMENT ON CULTURAL COMPETENCE

Cultural Competence involves the ability to perceive and identify cultural risk and to respond in ways that promote cultural safety.

The concept of Cultural Competence is applicable to all ethnic groups.

Quality and Competence

Cultural quality is based in attitude change. If clients believe they are receiving poor services because their culture and the culture of those giving the service are different, then there is a degree of cultural risk.

Any action taken to lessen the risk or danger, manage it and eliminate it becomes in this context, an action leading to a state of cultural safety and competence. Cultural safety acknowledges the worth of others culture, beliefs and values.

The attitudinal shift required in cultural quality is therefore based on the ability of services to demonstrate they can:

identify areas of cultural risk in the services, and establish management practices to eliminate those risks.

put safeguards in place, such as policies and procedures which act to monitor risk reduction and evaluate cultural competence.

Move beyond awareness of cultural values, beliefs and differences and take action based on that understanding.

Treaty of Waitangi

In the context of the Treaty of Waitangi, in which Maori are acknowledged as the tangata whenua, there is a requirement that Maori health needs are catered for equitably.

Cultural Competence in respect of Maori recognises:

the status of Maori as tangata whenua

the need to ensure effective health service delivery

the unacceptably low status of Maori wellbeing generally

the commitment to addressing the health needs of Maori

the need to consult Maori about services provided to them

If improvements are to be demonstrated in Maori health status then the service agencies must act in ways that enable participation and satisfaction for Maori consumers of those services.

Where it is recognised that Maori people do not respond well to existing services or the various ways in which those services are delivered then it will be important to eliminate the gaps in quality service delivery and the barriers Maori people perceive as inhibiting their access to services.

A Culturally Competent Organisation has:

Staff with a basic understanding of what cultural competence is, in relation to achieving excellence in working with people of different cultures.

Staff with a commitment to cultural quality in their workplace and service delivery.

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