First Nations Consultations For the Australian Human Rights Commission Health Sector: Systemic racism in health results in inequitable access to quality care and a lack of culturally safe services. First Nations patients often face racism and prejudice from healthcare providers, leading to inadequate care, poorer health outcomes and an ongoing distrust of the health system as a whole. The lack of trust reduces the willingness of First Nations people to access services which compounds poorer health outcomes across the board. Many participants emphasised the necessity of mandatory Cultural Safety education for healthcare providers, concerted effort to increase the First Nations Health workforce and the inclusion of traditional healing practices into the mainstream health system. Health policies must be reviewed and restructured to ensure Cultural Safety and support holistic views of health. Training for healthcare providers on First Nations health perspectives is essential to ensure culturally safe care. Recent amendments to the Health Practitioner Regulation Law need to be leveraged to embed preventative measures throughout the health system. For non-clinical staff, similar accountability mechanisms are required to ensure minimum standards across the system. Justice Sector: Within the justice system, First Nations people are disproportionately targeted by law enforcement and subjected to harsher sentencing. High incarceration rates, deaths in custody and over-policing of First Nations communities were significant concerns. Participants highlighted the urgent need for system reforms that incorporate First Nations knowledge and restorative justice practices, which focus on healing and reconciliation rather than punishment. Reforms in the justice system must include comprehensive training for law enforcement and legal professionals on First Nations rights and cultural contexts. Implementing restorative justice programs that incorporate First Nations knowledge and practices is crucial for creating a more equitable justice system. Participants emphasised the urgent need for legal reforms that incorporate First Nations perspectives and prioritise restorative methods over punitive measures. This includes involving First Nations leaders in the development and implementation of justice policies and practices, ensuring that the justice system is fair and just for First Nations communities. 4.2 Unconscious Bias Unconscious bias refers to attitudes and perceptions that are held subconsciously and are often deeply ingrained (Monash University, 2022). In many instances, individuals are not aware of their unconscious biases or where they have stemmed from without self-reflection and critical analysis. Unconscious bias is not dissimilar to stereotyping and can lead to inaccurate assumptions and can have a detrimental impact in decision-making (Monash University, 2022). If individual or organisational behaviours are influenced by implicit biases, they are likely to result in inequitable outcomes for First Nations people. When not addressed, unconscious bias shapes perspectives and drives decision making that perpetuates false ideologies and causes harm. Furthermore, another point emphasised by all stakeholders engaged in the consultations was the implicit bias and at times, explicit racism they have experienced and or witnessed in the treatment of First Nations people in the legal system. An Anti-Racism Framework: Voices of First Nations Peoples Page 46