The development of cultural competency and cultural safety is embedded throughout Te Rau Ora Training Programmes.
Cultural competence is the ability to interact respectfully and effectively with persons from a background different from one’s own. It goes beyond an awareness of or sensitivity to another culture, to include the ability to use that knowledge in cross-cultural situations. Cultural competence requires a willingness and ability by the healthcare practitioner to put aside assumptions and personal paradigms in their professional dealings with patients.
Cultural safety requires health practitioners to examine themselves and the potential impact of their own culture on clinical interactions. This requires health providers to question their own biases, attitudes, assumptions, stereotypes, and prejudices that may be contributing to a lower quality of healthcare for some patients.
For more information on cultural competency and cultural safety training offered through Te Rau Ora visit www.terauora.com