Organisations can show young people they’re safe: “by being a safe space, not judging, being kind, listening and helping you when you need it."
- Arial, a young Aboriginal Tasmanian
The Universal Principle is a part of the Child and Youth Safe Organisations Framework. The Universal Principle states that organisations must provide an environment that ensures the right to Cultural Safety of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children.
This means when organisations put each of the Child and Youth Safe Standards into practice, they must also give effect to the Universal Principle for Aboriginal Cultural Safety. The Universal Principle applies to all 10 Standards.
Cultural safety can be understood as an environment or relationship where:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people feel safe to be themselves
- their Aboriginality is respected
- their sense of self and identity is nurtured and encouraged.
Only Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can determine whether an organisation is culturally safe.
To assist organisations with understanding and embedding the Universal Principle, the Independent Regulator, or the Deputy Regulator (yet to be appointed) must be an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person.
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Seeking help?
We encourage anyone affected by, or with concerns about, child sexual abuse or other types of child abuse to access advice and support on our Wellbeing and support services page.