The Campaign
Strengthening Cultural Safety Across Australia
Cleansing the Way is a national initiative dedicated to strengthening culturally respectful, spiritually safe end-of-life and after-death care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.
The campaign recognises that Smoking and Cleansing Ceremonies are sacred cultural practices deeply connected to Spirit, Country and community. These Ceremonies support healing, protect families during vulnerable times and assist the safe passage of Spirit.
Cultural Integrity
Smoking and Cleansing Ceremonies uphold cultural identity, spiritual wellbeing and connection to Country during times of loss.
Systemic Change
Embedding policy pathways ensures Ceremony can be respectfully facilitated across health, aged care and after-death services.
Reconciliation in Action
Moving beyond awareness toward meaningful, tangible commitment within everyday service environments.
Why This Campaign Matters
For many First Nations families, the inability to access culturally appropriate Ceremony within service environments can cause spiritual distress, emotional harm and cultural disruption.
End-of-life care is not solely clinical — it is spiritual, relational and deeply connected to cultural identity.
Cultural safety is not symbolic — it is foundational.
Our Objectives
Cleansing the Way is designed to create sustainable, systemic change across service environments.
National Recognition
Promote national recognition of Smoking and Cleansing Ceremonies as legitimate cultural practices throughout the returning to Spirit journey and after death.
Policy Pathways
Encourage practical, policy-aligned approaches enabling organisations to respectfully facilitate Ceremony when requested.
Community Partnership
Strengthen partnerships between services and local Elders, cultural practitioners and knowledge holders.
Death Literacy
Increase understanding of First Nations Sorry Business protocols across health, aged care and after-death services.
HOW THE CAMPAIGN WORKS
Embedding culturally grounded practice begins with practical steps.
01
Make the Commitment
Organisations pledge their support to recognising and facilitating Ceremony.
02
Engage with Community
Work alongside local Elders and knowledge holders to guide respectful practice.
03
Implement Policy Pathways
Review or adopt policies that enable Ceremony facilitation within your service environment.
04
Build Cultural Capability
Strengthen staff understanding of First Nations death literacy and Sorry Business protocols.
