RBWH Cultural Capability Officer Geoff Binge

On Wednesday 1 June, RBWH made history with the launch of our very first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) during Reconciliation Week.

The RBWH RAP is the culmination of many years of hard work from a variety of RBWH teams and individuals, alongside many external stakeholders. It is our hospital’s guide for our journey to reconciliation and allows us to monitor the success of initiatives and continue to build and improve on them.

Our vision for the RAP is to create a future of true equity in health and wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We want to build all-inclusive workforce that stands respectful of cultural values and hosts culturally safe services that inspire consumers to benefit and enjoy quality treatment and care. We also want to enthuse and support our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff to reach their highest capability.

RBWH is committed to this vision of reconciliation and to closing the gap in healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

RBWH Cultural Capability Officer Geoffrey Binge said RBWH is already doing many great things in the reconciliation space, and the RAP will provide an opportunity to strategically expand on these initiatives.

“Being our first RAP, I hope it clearly shows the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and RBWH staff that we are ‘fair dinkum’ about closing the gap, and that we all have a job to listen and learn from each other,” Geoffrey said.

“I hope RBWH continues to be a leader for other hospitals in the development of health plans and purpose designed initiatives for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and staff.”

Aboriginal Community Elder Eric*?? said the RBWH RAP is a big step in the right direction.

“A lot of the content in the RAP came from our people. We really had a say,” Eric said.

“Commitment to carry out plans for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s wellbeing is a must, and that’s what the RAP is all about.”