Cultural strengthening
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Cultural strengthening

Orygen is committed to cultural strengthening – a process through which we can fulfil our responsibility to shape culturally safe mental health services and opportunities for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. 

Orygen’s First Nations team, guided by the First Nations Advisory Group, developed the inaugural Cultural Strengthening Plan 2021-2025 and helped lead its implementation and evaluation. 

The Cultural Strengthening Plan outlines principles that guide the way we work towards cultural safety and sets out our cultural strengthening priorities and targets for the coming years. 

Key aspects of this work include: 

  • maintaining a collaborative and strengths-based approach to integrating First Nations resilience, knowledge and culture 

  • continuing to cultivate equitable and enduring partnerships with First Nations communities 

  • investing in First Nations-developed, evidence-based tools and training for staff across the organisation. 

As outlined in the  Orygen Statement of Commitment to the First Nations of Australia, this work is First Nations-led and ensures First Nations voices are platformed in the process of cultural strengthening. 

Orygen’s Cultural Strengthening journey 

Cultural safety is the aim , and cultural strengthening is the process by which Orygen can progress towards cultural safety.  

Our journey so far: 

  • Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (2015-2016) 

  • Cultural Strengthening Action Plan (2026-2029)