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KindPath Collective Inc

Cultural Safety and First Nations Policy

Version 1.0 | Effective: 29 August 2026 | Review: 29 August 2027 | Owner: Director

1. Purpose

To formalise how KindPath works respectfully and accountably with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants, families, and communities, building on the partnerships already in place in the Northern Rivers.

2. Legislative and standards basis

  • UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
  • AIATSIS Code of Ethics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research (applied by analogy to community engagement and data practices).
  • CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance.
  • Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth).

3. Policy statement

Cultural safety is defined by the community being engaged with, not by KindPath. This policy commits KindPath to genuine partnership — following community protocol, not leading it, and never claiming authority over Aboriginal cultural knowledge, data, or community members’ stories that KindPath doesn’t hold.

4. Procedure

  1. Where KindPath’s work involves an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander participant, family, or community, engagement is guided by relevant Local Aboriginal Land Councils and community organisations already in partnership with KindPath (e.g. Ngulingah LALC), not initiated unilaterally.
  2. Data about, or held on behalf of, Aboriginal community members follows CARE Principles (Collective benefit, Authority to control, Responsibility, Ethics) alongside KindPath’s standard Information Management and Privacy Policy.
  3. Workers receive cultural safety orientation appropriate to the communities KindPath works with, drawing on existing community relationships rather than generic online training alone.
  4. Any concern about cultural safety raised by a participant, family or community partner is treated with the same seriousness as any other safeguarding or complaints matter.

5. Roles and responsibilities

  • Director: maintains community partnerships genuinely, seeks and acts on community feedback about KindPath’s practice.

6. Related documents

Individual Values, Beliefs and Cultural Safety Policy (Module 1) · Information Management and Privacy Policy · Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy

7. Review

Annually, in consultation with community partners where possible.