Kim Hosking
National Reconciliation Week
Yesterday during National Sorry Day, we reflected as a nation on the significant pain and loss the Stolen Generation and their families endure. Today marks the start of National Reconciliation Week. The theme for 2022 is Be Brave. Make Change. It’s a challenge to all Australians “to Be Brave and tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation so we can Make Change for the benefit of all Australians.”
As Country SA PHN’s Chief Executive Officer, I can state with confidence that our organisation and all our people take very seriously our commitment to reconciliation. We seek to improve health outcomes for country South Australians – particularly those at risk of poor outcomes. Today this still includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Country SA PHN has fruitful, rewarding engagement and close relationships with service providers and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations across country South Australia to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This work can only be truly effective when we acknowledge, own, embrace and tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation.
As such, Country SA PHN is undertaking Reconciliation Action Plans (RAP) as part of our reconciliation journey. We have completed the first stage - Reflect RAP - and our Innovate RAP is now out for consultation. You can provide your feedback on our plan by going to the Health Connections Community page here and completing our Innovate RAP survey.
We also encourage you to view our RAP Working Group’s reflections on the process of being involved in the RAP journey so far by watching our short video. It can be viewed here on our Country SA PHN website or across our social media platforms. I thank the committed Working Group on their energy and passion as they continue questioning, reforming and informing us all about the ways in which we can increase our cultural awareness and improve our daily actions as we strive for reconciliation.
As an organisation, we are currently attending Cultural Awareness training with Haydyn Bromley Cultural Director with Bookabee Australia, to deepen our understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. Developing a culturally sensitive and respectful workplace is imperative to working towards achieving reconciliation and genuine effective engagement.
This National Reconciliation Week our teams are attending reconciliation events across country South Australia and watching together and discussing the film Occupation: Native, available to watch on SBS On Demand.
How ever you are reflecting, celebrating and commemorating this National Reconciliation Week I encourage us all to work together towards this year’s theme and challenge ourselves to Be Brave. Make Change.
Federal Election
Finally, on behalf of Country SA PHN, I would like to congratulate the new Labor Government and look forward to continuing our productive relationship with the Federal Department of Health.
I would also like to congratulate the three MPs in our region of country South Australia who have been re-elected – Rebekah Sharkie in the Adelaide Hills Federal Electorate of Mayo, Tony Pasin in the Southeast Electorate of Barker and Rowan Ramsey in the North and West Electorate of Grey. We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with you and all members of your electorates.
