Why cultural safety, lived experience, and care go hand-in-hand, and how they all benefit our NDIS provision.
At Opendoor, we often reflect on our responsibility to deliver services that are genuinely inclusive, deeply respectful, and culturally safe. For more than 40 years, we have supported people from all walks of life. We have worked with people across Melbourne and Geelong and created a community where everyone can participate and belong. As an NDIS provider, this forms a strong part of everything we do.
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners: the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people of the Kulin Nation across Naarm, and the Wadawurrung people across the western plains and Djilang. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.
What cultural safety means in practice
We know that helping people thrive begins with recognising and respecting their identity, culture, values and community. While we don’t presume to share every person’s lived experience, we are committed to listening, learning and providing support that honours the things which matter most to each individual. We believe culturally safe relationships are built through respect, curiosity and genuine partnership.
How we put these values into practice
Our approach to NDIS support ensures we meet people exactly where they are:
- Culturally responsive: We recognise that structural barriers and systemic challenges continue to affect many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We actively educate ourselves, reflect on our own assumptions and adapt the way we work so participants feel respected, heard and safe.
- Trauma-informed: We recognise that many individuals and families carry intergenerational and personal trauma. A trauma-informed approach means we never ask “What is wrong with you?” Instead, we ask “What has happened to you, and how can we support you best?” We focus on creating physical and emotional environments that promote healing, predictability, and trust, and we are careful about the words we use when communicating with our participants.
- Lived experience: We value the unique perspectives that come from lived experience. Across Opendoor, our team members bring personal experience of disability, mental health, caring responsibilities and navigating complex service systems. These experiences strengthen our empathy and understanding, helping us provide practical, person-centred support. Alongside this, we remain committed to continually learning from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities and organisations so that our practice is culturally safe, respectful and responsive.
Whether you are being supported by our Support Coordination team to help you make sense of your NDIS plan, finding meaningful employment support or volunteer opportunities, or exploring our Social Options to get you out and connected in your local neighbourhood, these values guide our approach every step of the way.
Let’s walk together
Opendoor is committed to our goal of making every person feel safe, completely supported, and empowered to reach their full potential, and to do so with cultural respect, understanding, and awareness. This includes taking time to understand each participant’s cultural identity, involving family and community where appropriate, respecting cultural obligations and preferences, and supporting participants to make informed choices about who supports them.
If you’re looking for an NDIS provider committed to culturally safe, trauma-informed and person-centred support, we’re here to walk alongside you. We have local teams right across Melbourne, and we’re ready to chat.
Discover more about our personalised NDIS options by visiting opendoor.org.au/ndis, or reach out to our friendly team today to book a free, no-obligation conversation.
