Cultural Safety in NZ Clinical Practice: Te Tiriti, Equity, Communication, and Patient-Centred Care
Duration: 4 online classes × 30 minutes
Total learning time: 2 hours
Audience: Healthcare practitioners and clinical staff in New Zealand
Suggested CPD category: Cultural safety, cultural competence, and health equity learning
This online learning program is designed for healthcare practitioners and clinical staff working in New Zealand. It provides a practical introduction to cultural competence, cultural safety, Te Tiriti o Waitangi / the Treaty of Waitangi, Māori health equity, communication, bias, and patient-centred care.
The program includes four 30-minute online classes:
Class 1: Introduction to Cultural Competency and Cultural Safety in NZ Healthcare
This class introduces the key differences between cultural competence and cultural safety, and explains why culturally safe care is important in New Zealand healthcare.
Class 2: Treaty of Waitangi, Māori Health Equity, and Healthcare Responsibilities
This class explores the relevance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi / the Treaty of Waitangi in healthcare practice, with a focus on Māori health equity, partnership, participation, protection, and practitioner responsibility.
Class 3: Bias, Communication, and Building Trust with Diverse Patients
This class focuses on recognizing bias, improving communication, building trust, and supporting respectful interactions with patients from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Class 4: Applying Cultural Safety in Daily Clinic Practice
This class provides practical examples of how cultural safety can be applied in everyday clinical practice, including booking, assessment, informed consent, treatment, follow-up, and patient feedback.
The Medical Council of New Zealand describes cultural safety as requiring healthcare practitioners to reflect on how their own views, values, and biases may affect clinical interactions and patient care. Cultural safety is also closely linked with health equity.
The Ministry of Health's Te Tiriti o Waitangi framework recognises Treaty obligations as a foundation for achieving Māori health aspirations and improving Māori health equity.
By the end of this program, learners will have a better understanding of culturally safe healthcare practice and how to apply respectful, inclusive, and equity-focused care in their daily clinical work.