Understanding cultural inclusion in alcohol and other drug services in New South Wales, Australia and assessing the acceptability of a cultural inclusion audit

Abstract Introduction Cultural inclusion and competence are understood at the most basic level to be the practice of considering culture so as to provide effective services to people of different cultural backgrounds. In order to work better with clients from diverse backgrounds, alcohol and other drug (AOD) services need to offer a service that is designed to be accessible to all people, where systems in place operate in a way that considers different cultural needs. This research aimed to assess the extent to which non‐government AOD services in New South Wales are positioned to support cultural inclusion as well as to evaluate the acceptability of a cultural inclusion audit across four AOD sites. Methods The research adopted a mixed methods approach comprising of a pre‐audit online survey ( n = 85) designed to assess AOD services' attitudes and practices towards cultural inclusion, and in‐depth interviews that were conducted with nine AOD service staff and four cultural auditors to explore the acceptability of a cultural inclusion audit process. Results Findings from the survey indicate cultural inclusion practices are limited. Interview data highlight that while staff are not fully aware of what appropriate cultural inclusions entails, they are receptive to and want a cultural inclusion program. Discussion and Conclusions The study illustrates the benefits of implementing a cultural inclusion audit process aimed at raising awareness of what cultural inclusion entails. Including a cultural inclusion service audit is likely to enhance AOD service provision to culturally and linguistically diverse groups and thereby improve treatment outcomes.