Plan focused on First Nations healthcare

BENDIGO Health has launched its first Reconciliation Action Plan, aimed at making a difference in service for First Nations patients.

Manager of Aboriginal services Dave Kerr said the RAP could help develop a culturally sensitive approach to care for First Nations people within the organisation.

“It’s ensuring they feel safe and comfortable to come here and identify as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person and it’s ensuring that we do things culturally appropriately,” he said.

“For instance… understanding the trauma that has gone on in hospitals over a long period of time, what that represents and how that flows on to the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal people today.”

A steering group was formed to develop the RAP involving Aboriginal staff, Aboriginal community members including Dja Dja Wurrung people and others, and Mr Kerr said the meaningful engagement was important.

“RAPs shouldn’t be rushed, it’s important that we listen and engage with Aboriginal community before we race ahead and create a RAP,” he said.

“The process that we’ve gone through has been exhaustive and has gotten to the right result.”

The RAP is focused on innovation, with several actions surrounding relationships, respect, opportunities, and governance and tracking progress.

Bendigo Health CEO Peter Faulkner said it could also help create employment opportunities within the organisation for Indigenous people.

“We are the biggest employer in the area, and we think we’ve probably got the biggest responsibility,” he said.

Mr Faulkner said the launch of the of the RAP was a significant milestone in the organisation’s 160-year history and a chance to improve on service delivery.

“Our health service has not always done the best that we think we can for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and this is an opportunity for us to reboot, restart and really focus our attentions on providing a truly excellent service that is culturally sensitive and appropriate,” he said.