Shaping our cultural future

Our cultural future is shaped by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who work with us and who use our services. We work in partnership with First Nations people, communities and organisations to design, create and deliver services that focus on the physical, social, emotional, cultural and spiritual wellbeing of regional communities.

First Nations staff are empowered to support their communities to access culturally safe and respectful health services, helping to address service mistrust and working to close the gap in life expectancy and healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Cultural Safety Governance Committee

Our internal Cultural Safety Governance Committee has strong representation from First Nations staff across our footprint, and all members are integral in developing and implementing our Cultural Safety Framework. This committee keeps us accountable, making sure that actions taken are culturally sensitive, appropriate and reflect the views, perspectives and expectations of First Nations staff – and will help to drive individual strategies and actions to ensure that the Framework is effectively embedded into our practice.

Looking to the future, the Committee will continue to monitor and evaluate everything we’re doing to create a culturally safe environment for First Nations people – further strengthening our commitment to closing the gap.

Connecting our First Nations staff

In 2023, we held our inaugural ‘Shaping our Cultural Future’ workshop for all First Nations staff – to have their voices heard, share ideas and shape our culturally safe future. The workshop was facilitated by Ruth Davys, the vision keeper of Giilangyaldhaanygalang, a 100% Aboriginal owned Wiradjuri language education business.

First Nations staff were invited to provide direct input into our Cultural Safety Framework, to ensure it was relevant and meaningful. The framework provides the guiding principles that underpin the development of our Engagement Strategy, Reconciliation Plan and First Nation Workforce Plan, while ensuring we meet the required Cultural Safety Quality Assurance Standards. We focus on the importance of Connection to Culture, Connection to Country and Connection to Community:

• Understanding that First Nations cultures exist and thrive in a wide range of communities throughout Australia.
• Appreciating Country and how it’s a living environment that sustains, and is sustained by, people and culture.
• Finally, recognising that each Community that we live in and work with is different and unique.

We are committed to a collective journey to empower First Nations people to live healthy and prosperous lives.

Pathways for First Nations employment and opportunities

Across our organisation, First Nations staff have their own lived experience, cultural knowledge, skills and expertise. We embrace these differences and – combined with cultural immersion training, cultural and community service leave and professional development opportunities – work to ensure employment and upskilling opportunities for First Nations peoples is readily available.

Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP)

Our vision for reconciliation is grounded in the belief that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should enjoy the same health outcomes as non-Indigenous Australians. We are committed to building and strengthening our community relationships, and to improving the health, social and economic outcomes for First Nations people.

Read more about how we support reconciliation.