Cultural Safety Training

The Council acknowledges the expertise and contributions of the following people in the development and review of this program.

First Nations Advisory Group:
Associate Professor Shawana Andrews, Professor Shaun Ewen, & Associate Professor Michael Reynolds

Review Panel:
Ms Kathryn Potter & Ms Ellie White

Authors:
Ms Joanne Bolton, Dr Rachel Toovey & Professor Louisa Remedios

Since 15 January 2020, all international physiotherapy candidates starting the Council’s Standard Assessment Pathway, the FLYR Pathway or Equivalence of Qualification Pathway, are required to complete the online Cultural Safety Training program.

Within the Australian community, it is vital that all healthcare practitioners are able to practice in culturally safe ways, particularly when working with Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) has specifically outlined that physiotherapists in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand must be able to work effectively with people whose cultural realities are different from their own.

This is the process for when Cultural Safety Training needs to be completed:

1. Candidates apply and pay for your Eligibility Assessment and Cultural Safety Training at the same time. Equivalence of Qualification (Existing Program) candidates, will apply and pay for your assessment and Cultural Safety Training at the same time.
2. The candidate will receive an email from Mobile Learning Unit at the University of Melbourne to access the online Cultural Safety Training modules
3. The Council will process your assessment application Check processing times for more information.
4. Candidates need to complete and successfully pass the Cultural Safety Training exam (80% pass mark).
5. Candidates and the Council will receive a Certificate of Completion for Cultural Safety Training for Physiotherapists from the University of Melbourne.
6. For Standard Assessment (including Express FLYR & FLYR Pathway candidates), after successful completion of the Cultural Safety Training and Eligibility Assessment, candidates receive Interim Certificate and are able to apply to take the Written Assessment stage.
7. For Equivalence of Qualification candidates, after successful completion of Cultural Safety Training and Equivalence of Qualification, candidates receive a Certificate of Substantial Equivalence of Qualification.

The Council’s online Cultural Safety Training has been developed in partnership with The University of Melbourne and aims to deliver a number of key benefits and learning outcomes to participants who complete the training.

• Demonstrate an understanding of the history and contemporary culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• Explain cultural safety and why Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are at high risk of feeling culturally unsafe during health care service delivery
• Recognise important facts that physiotherapists must know to provide culturally appropriate and safe services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• Identify errors behind common myths and stereotypes linked to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• Recognise racist behaviour and select appropriate strategies to avoid racist behaviour and its impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• Apply the principles of culturally safe practice in a range of physiotherapy clinical practice settings

Candidates must successfully complete the online Cultural Safety Training program and achieve 80% pass mark to progress on your assessment pathway.

Candidates are able to repeat the exam until they successfully complete it (no additional fee incurred).