NATSIAACC has made a submission to the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care for the third edition of the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards.

As the national peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ageing and aged care, our submission calls for cultural safety, Elder and Older Person-led governance, and trauma-aware, healing-informed approaches to be embedded across all Standards.

Although the NSQHS Standards apply to health services broadly, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders and Older People experience these systems in parallel with aged care, making NATSIAACC’s input critical to ensuring cultural safety, governance, and continuity of care are upheld.

We emphasise that for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders and Older People, true safety is achieved when care respects identity, culture, connection to community, and Country and/or Island Home.

Our key recommendations include:

• Embedding NATSIAACC’s Cultural Safety Definition into the Standards.

• Making cultural safety and trauma-informed care central to quality and safety.

• Strengthening integration across hospitals, aged care, primary care, and community services.

• Ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander governance, leadership, and voices guide design, delivery, and evaluation.

• Reducing compliance burden for Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations while upholding safety and accountability.

This submission is part of our ongoing advocacy to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders and Older People can age with dignity, security, and cultural connection.

Click here to download a copy of NATSIAACC’s Submission.