The Daalbirrwirr Gamambigu (Safe Children) Model: Embedding Cultural Safety in Child Protection Responses for Australian Aboriginal Children in Hospital Settings.
Tara Flemington, Jennifer Fraser, Clinton Gibbs, Joanne Shipp, Joe Bryant, Amanda Ryan, Devika Wijetilaka, Susan Marks, Mick Scarcella, Dimitra Tzioumi, Shanthi Ramanathan, Liesa Clague, Donna Hartz, Bob Lonne, Mark Lock Ngiyampaa
Author Information
Tara Flemington: Nursing, Midwifery and Service Reform, Mid North Coast Local Health District, Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450, Australia.
Jennifer Fraser: Faculty of Medicine and Health, Susan Wakil School of Nusing and Midwifery, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia.
Clinton Gibbs: Health Reform, Opportunities and Transition, Mid North Coast Local Health District, Port Macquarie, NSW 2444, Australia.
Joanne Shipp: Integrated Child, Youth and Family Wellbeing, Mid North Coast Local Health District, Port Macquarie, NSW 2444, Australia.
Joe Bryant: Aboriginal Health Strategy Unit, Mid North Coast Local Health District, Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450, Australia.
Amanda Ryan: Aboriginal Health Strategy Unit, Mid North Coast Local Health District, Port Macquarie, NSW 2444, Australia.
Devika Wijetilaka: Paediatrics, Mid North Coast Local Health District, Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450, Australia.
Susan Marks: Child Protection Unit, The Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.
Mick Scarcella: Aboriginal Health, The Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.
Dimitra Tzioumi: Child Protection Unit, The Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia.
Shanthi Ramanathan: Health Research Economics, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia. ORCID
Liesa Clague: School of Nursing, Midwifery, Health Science and Physiotherapy, The University of Notre Dame, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia.
Donna Hartz: School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Medicine Health & Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Gosford, NSW 2250, Australia.
Bob Lonne: School of Public Health and Social Work, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059, Australia. ORCID
Mark Lock Ngiyampaa: Faculty of Health, School of Public Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia. ORCID
The aim of this paper is to describe the development of a model of care to embed cultural safety for Aboriginal children into paediatric hospital settings. The Daalbirrwirr Gamambigu (pronounced "Dahl-beer-weer gum-um-be-goo" in the Gumbaynggirr language means 'safe children') model encompasses Child protection responses at clinical, managerial and organisational levels of health services. A review of scholarly articles and grey literature followed by qualitative interviews with Aboriginal health professionals formed the evidence base for the model, which then underwent rounds of consultation for cultural suitability and clinical utility. Culturally appropriate communication with children and their families using clinical yarning and a culturally adapted version of ISBAR (a mnemonic for Identify, Situation, Background, Assessment and Recommendation) for interprofessional communication is recommended. The model guides the development of a critical consciousness about cultural safety in health care settings, and privileges the cultural voices of many diverse Aboriginal peoples. When adapted appropriately for local clinical and cultural contexts, it will contribute to a patient journey experience of respect, dignity and empowerment.
