Culturally Safe Design goes beyond mere cultural appreciation – it is recognition of the profound impact that physical environments can have on an individual’s wellbeing. Culturally Safe Design integrates elements that are significant and meaningful to a cultural group. These design elements impact wellbeing or ‘cultural safety’ by creating a sense of respect, belonging and trust to those users.
“We shape spaces that elevate the human experience. Environments where everyone’s voice is heard”
Our experience designing within the Justice system brought the importance of culturally relevant & safe design to the forefront of our work. Venko look to universal design principles in how we create a space, shaping spaces that elevate the human experience. Environments where everyone’s voice is heard.
Cultural Bias
Aboriginal Australian’s historically fraught relationship with our justice system, has a far-reaching impact on their people’s engagement with justice facilities and has been preventative to Aboriginal people having their voices heard. Working together with VCAT on their Bundoora Courts & Human Rights Division in La Trobe Street, Venko have been privileged to create positive impact for change and shift the narrative in the civil justice system.
Shifting the narrative
Venko worked in collaboration with the VCAT Koori Support Team to embed cultural safety in a variety of ways and ensure the courts environment supports the Koori Engagement Program that aims to improve Aboriginal access and participation at VCAT.
Our designs for VCAT addressed physical, visual and spiritual elements to create a space that is culturally relevant and respectful to our First Nation’s Peoples.
The Koori hearing rooms have a unique format in how users & VCAT officials are positioned within the room, they also include the Aboriginal flag, Koori artwork and possum skin cloaks which hold cultural significance for Aboriginal people and relate to stories of belonging.
The design of these facilities encompasses the use of appropriate imagery and artifacts but equally spiritual elements such as the smoking ceremony at the project opening serves as an important act in respect of cultural traditions. Each of these work towards providing opportunity for everyone to participate in the VCAT process in a safe and comfortable way.
Incorporating cultural safety into our designs creates spaces that resonate deeply with the users and promotes social cohesion & improved well-being of the individual. Venko are always looking for ways to elevate our design outcomes that create equitable experiences within the environments we create – a better tomorrow for everyone.
Creating a Culturally Safe design
- Research and consultation – inclusion & knowledge sharing
- Respect for cultural significance – understanding & proper context
- Personalisation & flexibility – the needs of one are not the needs of all
- Representation – art, textiles, visual cues – artefacts
- Sensory Considerations – paying attention to auditory elements such as music and culturally respectful language announcements.