Achieving cultural safety in genetic counseling for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia

Abstract

Globally, Indigenous people, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia, experience significantly poorer health outcomes than their non-Indigenous counterparts. In part, this can be attributed to the ongoing impacts of colonization, marginalization, and systemic discrimination. In the genomic healthcare era, Indigenous people remain underrepresented in public genetic health services, raising concerns about cultural competency and inclusivity within the genetic counseling profession. Without culturally safe and accessible genetic services, the disparities in Indigenous people's health could widen. This paper explores cultural safety within the context of genetic couns..