Recognising bias to support culturally safe healthcare
22 Sep 2026
Bias can influence the way healthcare professionals understand and respond to patients. Dr Joel Wright, a Wakka Wakka man and GP on Stradbroke Island, says recognising these biases is an important step towards providing safer and more respectful care.
He said bias and assumptions are part of being human and can come from a person’s culture, experiences and professional background. Healthcare systems can also shape how practitioners approach patients through existing frameworks and processes.
Dr Wright encouraged GPs to recognise their own assumptions and approach each patient with respect and dignity.
He said being open about uncertainty or discomfort can also help build trust, as patients can see that their healthcare professional is making a genuine effort to provide appropriate care.
The Mental Health Professionals’ Network (MHPN) will hold two webinars on Wednesday, 23 September, focused on barriers to culturally safe and inclusive care.
Dr Wright will join a panel of experts to discuss how bias can affect healthcare and share practical approaches to improving collaboration between healthcare professionals.
He also warned that viewing First Nations patients mainly through a high-risk mental health lens could shift attention away from the individual patient and their needs.
He said culturally safe care requires healthcare professionals to recognise that people may have different understandings of mental health, and that professional assumptions may not always reflect what matters to the patient.
The CPD-accredited webinar is free to attend, with sessions scheduled for 2.00 pm and 7.00 pm AEST.
MHPN Chief Executive Dr Daisy Brooke said the session would highlight how healthcare professionals from different disciplines are working together to provide culturally safe and inclusive care.
Recognising bias to support culturally safe healthcare
Source: Mental Health Professionals’ Network (MHPN)