Prof Hugh Taylor AC and Dr Ashish Agar

Synopsis: Cultural safety is recognized as one of the key components to provide effective and high-quality health care. This symposium offers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural and health knowledge for RANZCO fellows from a geographically place based, South Australian perspective.
The symposium will draw together South Australian Aboriginal leaders from academia, govern- ment, community-controlled health organizations and the arts and community to share stories that include reflection on the cultural determinants of health. The symposium will illustrate the importance of connection to culture and country and how this can enhance resilience and empowerment for improved health outcomes.
Significant progress is being made to improve Indigenous eye care and reduce the known ineq- uities of vision care and eye health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Many of the recommendations in the Roadmap to Close the Gap for Vision (2012) have been implemented and professional and peak agencies such as RANZCO offer and encourage cultural safety and awareness training and are working to improve engagement with Indigenous organizations and communities. The Roadmap and Indigenous eye health sector identifies the need for improved Indigenous access to mainstream eye health services, increased exposure to rural and Indigenous settings for practitioners in training and to ensure that responsive and culturally appropriate care is available.