March 19, 2025On Monday, 17 March, the Northern Health Cultural Responsiveness Subcommittee proudly launched the 2025-27 Cultural Responsiveness Plan, marking a significant milestone in our commitment to equitable and culturally safe care for all patients, families, and staff.
The development of this plan was a collaborative effort, shaped by feedback from the Northern Health Diversity Survey, staff consultations, and input from consumers. Over the past year, the subcommittee has worked closely with teams across the organisation to identify key priorities, challenges, and opportunities for improving cultural responsiveness. Guided by best practice, the plan follows the Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health’s framework for cultural competence and aligns with the National Accreditation Standards.
The 2025-27 Cultural Responsiveness Plan provides a clear direction and vision for the next three years, ensuring that cultural responsiveness remains central to how we deliver care. By embedding cultural competence across our services, we aim to:
- Enhance the quality and accessibility of healthcare for all patients
- Reduce health disparities among different cultural groups
- Strengthen relationships with diverse communities
- Empower staff to deliver culturally safe and effective care
To achieve this, the plan outlines key actions, including improving interpreter access, strengthening cultural competence training, building partnerships with multicultural communities, and embedding culturally responsive care across all areas of service delivery.
The launch event featured insights from staff who contributed to the plan’s development:
Cherlyn Ngan, Management Intern from the Australasian College of Health Services Management, played a crucial role in supporting the subcommittee with research, benchmarking, and staff and consumer consultations.
Reflecting on her experience, she shared, “Developing the Cultural Responsiveness Plan 2025–27 alongside the Subcommittee has been a truly enriching experience. Through consultations, stakeholder engagement, and collaboration with clinicians and consumer representatives, I have gained a deeper appreciation of cultural diversity and its impact on patient care. This process has highlighted Northern Health’s dedication to providing patient-centred and culturally appropriate care. It has been an honour to contribute to this meaningful initiative.”
Tilini Gunatillake, Research Development Manager and a new member of the Cultural Responsiveness Subcommittee, said, “It’s inspiring to see Northern Health strengthening its approach to culturally responsive care at every level of the organisation, ensuring all patients and staff receive the best possible care and support.”
Tania Barry, Director of the Library and a subcommittee member, highlighted the role of information accessibility in cultural responsiveness, “Northern Health Library plays a vital role in ensuring equitable access to information, amplifying diverse voices, and supporting staff in delivering inclusive, person-centred care. Being part of the Cultural Responsiveness Subcommittee allows us to advocate for resources, research, and initiatives that foster a truly inclusive healthcare environment.”
Stefania Zen, Chair of the Cultural Responsiveness Subcommittee, emphasised the importance of staff contributions and the growing diversity of the subcommittee itself.
“I am proud to lead the Cultural Responsiveness Subcommittee, which has grown significantly over the past year to include representation from many different areas across Northern Health. Our subcommittee reflects the diversity of our workforce, with members from 13 different cultural backgrounds bringing valuable perspectives to this important work. I want to sincerely thank all staff who participated in the consultations and workshops, sharing their insights and experiences to help shape this plan. Your contributions have been invaluable in creating a framework that truly reflects the needs of our diverse community. I look forward to following the plan’s implementation closely through our committee meetings and seeing the positive impact it will have across our health service,” she said.
Natalia Dewiyani, Spiritual Care Coordinator, said that she’s grateful for the launch of the Cultural Responsiveness Plan, “It acknowledges the rich tapestry of faiths, beliefs, and traditions of Northern Health’s staff, patients, and families. By honouring these values, we ensure that everyone—regardless of their spiritual or cultural background—feels safe, seen, heard, and valued. This commitment will not only enhance the patient experience but also foster greater staff satisfaction.”
Wendy Nicol, Operations Manager, Support Services added, “We are so proud to launch the Cultural Responsiveness Plan for 2025-2027 and make a difference in the way we support and focus on patients and staff from culturally diverse backgrounds. Through this plan, all departments at Northern Health have the chance to not only contribute but also ensure that the experience provided to our patients is tailored to their needs.”
The full 2025-27 Cultural Responsiveness Plan is now available here. We encourage all staff to read it and consider how they can contribute to its success.
Together, we can continue to build a healthcare environment where every patient and staff member feels understood, respected, and supported.
