Surveillance and Cultural Learning Strategy

In September 2022, we launched our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Cultural Learning Strategy. This strategy improves educative cultural awareness by increasing understanding, value and recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories, knowledge and rights. The strategy includes appropriate cultural training for all our staff about how we deliver our services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their communities.

Philippa Crome, Executive Manager, Corporate Services and CASA's Indigenous Champion, says for our Cultural Learning Strategy to be successful we need the support of all CASA staff members:

This strategy lays the foundation for us all to have a learning path to build our cultural safety competence and I encourage staff to read the strategy and think about how they can pursue its goals in their day-to-day role.

Our initial Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Learning Strategy (2022 – 2023) focused on building cultural capability by:

  • educating and training managers to build their knowledge and understanding of cultural inclusion to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff
  • adding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander training to the Compliance and Induction Program
  • ensuring staff with cultural awareness criteria complete additional cultural communication training.

An example of where the cultural learning strategy and our staff members' extensive networks and relationships provided real benefit was when our inspectors conducted surveillance events in Indigenous communities. In late 2022 CASA staff, including Indigenous inspectors Ron Salter and Robbie Simms, conducted surveillance events on Horn Island and engaged with Traditional Custodians, Torres Strait Island council members and Torres Strait regional leaders. The surveillance event included auditing activities and aircraft inspections.

James Mosby (Regulatory Services Officer and Office Coordinator, Cairns) assisted with organising and planning the event, and these discussions were very positive. The representatives were extremely grateful for our visit, and they provided feedback that they look forward to an ongoing positive relationship with CASA. These activities build positive reconciliation outcomes and improve aviation safety in the region. CASA has completed this unique Innovate RAP (2021 – 2023) action on 3 occasions and continues with this action and associated deliverables in this Stretch RAP.

Published date: 5 July 2023
Online version available at: https://www.casa.gov.au//reconciliation-action-plan-2023-2026/surveillance-and-cultural-learning-strategy
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