After a two-year co-design process, Canteen has proudly launched its Culturally Responsive Framework. This framework is for all Canteen team members and outlines how Canteen will work with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander young people and their families impacted by cancer.
“The implementation of this framework will equip Canteen team members to provide accessible, and effective social and emotional wellbeing support services for all young people impacted by cancer, and that they and their families/kin feel respected, included, and safe.”
- Message from the Chair of Canteen’s Board and Canteen’s CEO
The Culturally Responsive Framework was launched in a ceremony at Canteen’s National Office on Gadigal land this week, led by Canteen’s Young Adult Reconciliation Network (YARN) and members of the Professional Advisory Group, who presented our guiding principles and care plan to develop staff competency in working with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander young people, kin and communities in a culturally responsive way, under the lens of cultural integrity.
Message from our Young Adult Reconciliation Network (YARN)
This framework was created as part of Canteen’s Reconciliation Action Plan to guide Canteen team members in how to support young Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people and their families impacted by cancer. The YARN group believes this framework is a tangible representation of Canteen seeing the need for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people receiving support around their cancer experience and meeting this need.
The framework has been developed by mob, to support mob, and as a direct action to addressing a gap within cancer services. As a Canteen team member, this framework will help you to strengthen your skills to provide an equitable and culturally safe service with and for young Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. If you are a clinician, there is specific information that will enhance your understanding of how to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and strengthen your clinical practice.
It is our intention that this framework will:
- Enable young mob to feel safe and supported
- Promote an increase in the understanding of the impacts of cancer for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, for both mob and Canteen staff
- Benefit future generations
- Improve the lives of all those impacted by cancer
To accomplish this, this framework utilises a variety of approaches that revolve around the simplicity of “having a yarn” and being respectful. Self-determination is at the heart of this framework and young people and families will be supported to determine their own needs and priorities throughout their cancer experience and journey.
The YARN group has co-created this framework with other Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander professional advisory group members and Canteen staff via a series of consultations. Key outputs from these consultations which form the structure of this framework are Canteen’s:
- Values, commitments, guiding principles and approach to working with young Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, their families/kin and communities.
- Approach to media and communications with young Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, their families/kin and communities.
- Model for culturally responsive outreach and service delivery for young Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, their families/kin and communities.
- Culturally responsive processes for strengths, needs and risk assessment and care planning with young Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people and their families/kin.
- Approach to monitoring, evaluating, and learning around cultural integrity with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, their families/kin and community.
