Safe, Strong, Respected: Anti-Racism Approaches for Inclusive Regulatory Workplaces

This session aims to equip regulators with the knowledge and tools to establish and maintain anti-racist workplaces, ultimately contributing to a more equitable and inclusive regulatory framework.

First Nations communities face ongoing racism resulting from colonisation, dispossession, and systemic inequities embedded in society. These experiences uniquely affect First Nations regulators who are disrupting for positive change in the provision of safe care for their communities, who operate within environments that often reflect broader societal biases (while also impacting licensees). 

Recognising this, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) engaged world-renowned Aboriginal race scholar Prof Yin Paradies to develop the ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Anti-Racism Policy’ to create culturally safe, respectful, and inclusive regulatory workplaces free from racism.  

This presentation will explore the development and implementation of an anti-racism policy tailored to the specific needs of First Nations regulators which includes staff, Board and committee members as well as community members. Central to the policy is the recognition of racism as a workplace hazard, requiring proactive measures to manage its psychological and professional impacts. The policy is grounded in principles of cultural safety, self-determination, restorative justice, and shared responsibility. 

Participants will hear about the lessons learned in developing, achieving buy-in, and implementing an anti-racism policy in a changing and politically challenging environment. 

Key elements that position this policy as uniquely different and innovative compared to other human resource policy approaches include:  

•    Cultural safety as a priority: Cultural safety, as defined by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, forms the backbone of this policy. It ensures workplaces respect the dignity, values, and lived experiences of First Nations regulators.  

•    Actionable, transparent, resolution mechanisms: From active bystander training to the establishment of a dedicated racism-related and Indigenous-led Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander special issues committee (RATSISIC), the policy provides clear, supportive pathways for addressing and resolving incidents of racism.  

•    Restorative justice approaches: Emphasising healing and relationship restoration, the policy balances accountability with empowerment, focusing on collaboration to resolve conflicts while minimising harm. 

By implementing a comprehensive anti-racism policy, regulatory bodies can foster inclusive workplaces where First Nations staff and stakeholders feel respected and supported. This approach ensures that regulators not only meet legislative obligations but also set a standard of excellence for promoting equity and cultural safety in professional settings.

Webinar attendees will also participate in an "Off the Record" Discussion and Questions segment (not being recorded), providing an opportunity for the audience to engage in discussing learnings and questions generated from the panelists' presentations.

Speakers:
Jayde Fuller, National Director, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Strategy Unit, Ahpra

Olli Wynyard Gonfond, National Director, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People and Culture Programs, Ahpra 

Yin Paradies, Deakin Distinguished Professor and Chair in Race Relations, Deakin University, School of Humanities and Social Sciences