Cultural safety and cultural competence

Physiotherapists in Aotearoa New Zealand practise within a culturally diverse environment. They are required to be competent when engaging with kiritaki hauora | patients whose cultures may differ from their own, and with colleagues and other health professionals from diverse backgrounds.

Culture and its context inform how kiritaki hauora understand health, well‐being and illness, the choices regarding their health, how they access health care services and how they respond to interventions.

Culture may include, but not be limited to age, gender, sexual orientation, race, socio‐economic status (including occupation), religion, ethnicity and organisational culture, physical or mental or other impairments. Cultural competence is key to building trust with kiritaki hauora to deliver better health outcomes.

The Board | te Poari has two standards directly relating to cultural competence and safety:

• He kawa whakaruruhau ā matatau Māori: Māori cultural safety and competence standard
• Cultural safety and cultural competence standard