Yesterday our staff celebrated and acknowledged National Reconciliation Week. This year’s theme, Bridging Now to Next, reflects the ongoing connection between our past, present and future, and calls on all Australians to step forward together, to look ahead while allowing the lessons learned from the past to guide us. Our staff met on Darug land to reflect on the past 25 years, followed by a walk around campus to demonstrate our commitment to furthering our journey towards Reconciliation.

Our vision for Reconciliation is an Australia where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures are valued and respected, and where truths are told and heard. An Australia where we can create stories of prosperity and success together, and where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples experience equity in opportunity across all aspects of life. Our role in this vision is to cultivate relationships and form partnerships that foster collaborative healthcare practices. Our commitment to working together to address the specific needs and priorities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples living in our region, will help improve health and wellbeing outcomes in ways that are defined by communities themselves.

We cemented our commitment to Reconciliation in 2018 with our first Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). This first Innovate RAP (2018-2020) enabled us to formalise the foundations for work in our communities, which has been an area of focus for our organisation since inception.

Our second Innovate RAP (2022-2024) focused on the strengthening of these core relationships, while also focusing on ensuring our own organisation and service environment is conducive to cultural expression and safety. We reflect on the opportunities these RAPs provided for us to learn, grow and mature as an organisation on our journey towards Reconciliation, and carry these as key learnings to guide us forward. 

Last year, our RAP Working Group began work on our third RAP, a Stretch Reconciliation RAP, which is undergoing endorsement through Reconciliation Australia and due to launch later this year. Organisations who undertake a Stretch RAP need to have established a strong commitment and approach to advancing Reconciliation internally with a willingness to influence within their sphere externally.

We are proud to have reached this next stage of our Reconciliation journey. Through our Stretch RAP we will continue to promote the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, recognise cultural and community leaders’ knowledge, and work with other RAP organisations to lead others in our sphere of influence to do the same.