Indigenous groups hit back over nurses, midwives’ ‘white privilege’ code of conduct
A NEW code of conduct for Australian nurses and midwives was slammed for including a reference to “white privilege”. But this is why it’s necessary.
IT’S the two words that have the medical profession divided — “white privilege”.
Last week it was reported that nurses and midwives around the country
were subject to a new code of conduct that declares “cultural safety is as important as clinical safety” and requires “the acknowledgment of white privilege”.
The new code,
which came into effect in March, was labelled “cultural madness”.
“This is eye-watering stuff,” Graeme Haycroft from the Nurses Professional Association of Queensland told Sky News host Peta Credlin.
“We’re calling for the resignation of the chairman of the board (Associate Professor Lynette Cusack) because she’s put her name to (the new code) and it’s unacceptable.”
But indigenous groups say they’re “stunned” by commentary around the new code and that the acknowledgment of white privilege within the nursing profession is long overdue and completely necessary.
“It is clear ... that Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander peoples still experience poorer health outcomes than non-indigenous Australians,” Janine Mohamed from the Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives said.
She cited
the 2018 Closing the Gap report tabled by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull which states that the target to close the health gap between the two groups is “not on track”.
“It is well understood inequities are a result of the colonisation process and the many discriminatory policies to which Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Australians were subjected to, and the ongoing experience of discrimination today,” Ms Mohamed said.
The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia hit back at claims by Mr Haycroft that there was no consultation and that the majority of nurses and midwives were opposed to the new code.
Others joined the board in support of the new code.
A new code of conduct for nurses and midwives includes the term ‘white privilege’
