Cultural Safety at SBS Commissioning

SBS recognises the importance of inclusive environments, to ensure everyone is respected and valued for their contributions. Lived experience and meaningful collaboration with community are essential to achieve authentic and respectful portrayal. We encourage production companies to create inclusive environments and work collaboratively with relevant communities. For certain programs which focus on under-represented communities, production companies must outline their plan to ensure cultural safety. 

What is cultural safety?

The Australian Human Rights Commission refers to cultural safety as “…an environment that is safe for people: where there is no assault, challenge or denial of their identity, of who they are and what they need. It is about shared respect, shared meaning, shared knowledge and experience of learning, living and working together with dignity and truly listening”.

What is a Cultural Safety Plan?

SBS Commissioning Editors may require certain production companies to provide a Cultural Safety Plan for their program and may discuss this plan with you throughout the production cycle. This plan should outline the production company’s commitment to meaningful collaboration with relevant under-represented communities and its plan to create an inclusive environment for staff from all backgrounds, including those from the relevant under-represented communities. Please discuss your Cultural Safety Plan with your SBS Commissioning Editor.

SBS has created Cultural Safety Plan template which can be adapted for your production.