Creating culturally safe workplaces for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
Building cultural capability within your business is a continual process, encompassing cultural awareness, cultural competence and cultural safety.
Use our information, resources and tools as a starting point to help you:
- build awareness and cultural safety in your workplace
- provide support to First Nations employees
- help your business be better positioned to respond to your present and future workforce needs.
Building a culturally safe workplace checklist
Use our checklist to help you start building your business's cultural capability and create a culturally safe workplace.
Enhance your business – First Nations cultural capability webinars
Watch webinars focused on enhancing First Nations cultural capability in your business.
First Nations protocols and culturally important dates
Find information on protocols, events and celebrations that are culturally significant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Benefits of cultural diversity and addressing racism in the workplace
Discover the benefits of cultural diversity and tools you can use in your business to address racism and unconscious bias.
Building your business's cultural capability
Learn what actions you can take towards creating a culturally safe workplace and improve your engagement with First Nations people.
Attracting and recruiting First Nations employees
Find out how you can attract and recruit First Nations employees to your business.
Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees
Learn about supporting and creating opportunities for your First Nations employees.
Glossary of First Nations terms
Use this glossary to help you understand and use appropriate First Nations terminology.
Acknowledgement of Country
The Queensland Government respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands and seas from across Queensland. We pay our respects to the Elders past and present, for they hold the memories, the traditions, the culture and hopes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across the state.
A better understanding and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures develops an enriched appreciation of Australia's cultural heritage and can lead to reconciliation. This is essential to the maturity of Australia as a nation and fundamental to the development of an Australian identity.
'First Nations peoples', 'Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples' and 'Indigenous peoples' will be used interchangeably throughout these resources.
"I was researching information on First Nations peoples for a workshop on cultural awareness and cultural safety. I found the information informative, practical, useful and valuable. As a First Nations person born in Cairns, I feel confident that the websites and information provided can influence the minds and actions of people who use the website and the information. Congratulations on a great job!" — Isabelle Adams
Download the cultural capability resource
Find practical tools and information to build awareness and cultural safety in your business, provide support to First Nations employees and improve engagement with First Nations people.
These resources are a key action under the Queensland Government's Paving the Way – First Nations Training Strategy, which addresses First Nations-led training and workforce solutions, skills and training pathway opportunities, and cultural awareness skills and competency.
Tools and resources
Find more information on human resources and employment support for your small business.
Support for employers
Find support for Queensland employers to hire jobseekers and manage their workforce.
Mentoring for Growth
Access volunteer business experts who provide insights and suggestions relating to your business challenges and opportunities.
Employing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Find a range of government incentives, programs and packages available for employing First Nations people in your business.