There’s a growing body of theory about cultural safety in mainstream health and aged care, yet the sector is missing the mark in its understanding of how it applies to information about assistive products.

Independent Living Assessment Australia (iLA) commissioned research in 2022 that revealed a significant unmet need: older First Nations people are not getting the information about low-risk and under-advice assistive products they need to age well; in the way they want to receive it. Some felt the sector uses a “white-lens” in the way it communicates about staying independent through assistive products, and therefore the information is not ‘for them’. They challenged iLA to learn from community, and build the mainstream sector’s capacity to deliver relevant, culturally safe information about assistive products.

Join iLA as they share the results of further research conducted in 2023: identifying guiding principles and indicators for success, unique to the Assistive Technology space. iLA will discuss how they’re turning research into better practice for their healthy ageing program LiveUp. This includes supporting older First Nations people to tell their own stories about thriving into age; and co-designing a suite of informational materials about assistive products, tailored exclusively for First Nations people.

This presentation will evidence to policy makers and industry practitioners why applying a First Nations cultural lens to the Assistive Technology space is so important, not just so First Nations people can see themselves in mainstream program solutions, but so that the sector can deliver stronger, more inclusive programs for everyone.