Independent Cultural Safety Review

The Education Directorate is committed to creating a culturally safe, respectful and inclusive workplace for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees.

In November 2025, the Directorate commissioned an independent Cultural Safety Review, undertaken by the Ngarra Group, to better understand the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and identify actions needed to strengthen cultural safety across the organisation.

Read the Independent Cultural Safety Review [PDF 396kB]

The Independent Cultural Safety Review was commissioned in response to concerns and feedback from staff regarding cultural safety in the workplace.

The review involved consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees and provided an independent assessment of cultural safety across the Directorate. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff were placed at the centre of the review process, ensuring their experiences and perspectives informed the findings and recommendations.

The review identified areas where immediate action was required to address racism, strengthen accountability and improve cultural safety across the Directorate.

In response, the Directorate has commenced a range of foundational reforms, including:

• Establishing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Branch to strengthen leadership, accountability and oversight of cultural safety initiatives.
• Working in partnership with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff to guide implementation of the review's recommendations.
• Providing cultural wellbeing supports for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees.
• Implementing Cultural Safety Plan tools to help reduce cultural load and support culturally safe workplace practices.
• Strengthening anti-racism messaging, accountability mechanisms and staff supports.
• Reinforcing expectations that racism, discrimination and culturally unsafe behaviour will not be tolerated.

The review makes eight recommendations across four key reform areas that will guide our ongoing work:

1. Establishing a shared, organisation-wide definition of cultural safety.
2. Strengthening Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership, authority and decision-making.
3. Reforming organisational structures, systems and governance arrangements to embed cultural safety.
4. Building workforce capability to address racism and strengthen cultural safety across the Directorate.

Implementation of these recommendations will occur in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and key stakeholders. The Directorate is committed to ongoing reform, transparent reporting and continuous improvement to ensure all staff experience a culturally safe, respectful and inclusive workplace.

Cultural safety is essential to creating a workplace where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees feel respected, valued, heard and supported. The Education Directorate acknowledges the findings of the Independent Cultural Safety Review and is committed to taking meaningful action to deliver lasting organisational change.