Rising to the Challenge in Aboriginal Health by Creating Cultural Security

The term "cultural security" has been used for many years but often quite loosely. Cultural security, as defined here, has a verypractical meaning. The aim of this paper is to discuss the concepts of cultural awareness, safety and security and to propose howhealth care providers can gauge the degree of cultural security in their practice. Without a clear definition of terms it is easy forhealth services and staff to feel that they are already at an appropriate level, yet wonder at Aboriginal people's resistance to usehealth care and services and lack of engagement in community activities.Achieving cultural security is about the meeting of two different approaches in health, the Western definition and the Aboriginaldefinition, to achieve the desired outcome of improved health status. There are always going to be barriers and enablers in everycommunity and organisation for the development and attainment of cultural security in health services, and time is the enemywhen it comes to strengthening enablers and breaking down barriers. However, prioritising attaining cultural security will bringabout one of the greatest impacts on the health of Aboriginal Australia.