Sherry Holzapfel, ED, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health.

Jackie Hanson, Chief Executive, Metro North Health

We have listened and heard stories, experiences, discussions, and ideas about health equity in many forms from staff yarns and consultations to our working groups as well as with our community consultations. This truth telling, sharing, listening and discussions have helped pave the way for the Metro North Health Equity Strategy 2022 – 2025 to be developed.

We had the opportunity yesterday to meet with our valued Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders, community members, staff, and partnership organisations to present the draft strategy. As we continue our consultation over the next week, we encourage you all to read through the draft strategy and provide any feedback through our Yarning Hub by 20 April 2022.

At the gathering we also officially unveiled our bold new campaign ‘Health Equity Starts with Me’. The campaign encourages us to consider how we contribute to health equity across every touch point of our service delivery and features a commitment made by midwives, doctors, administration staff, health executives and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consumers. Watch the film here.

If you would like to support the campaign within your work area, please email the health equity program to obtain copies of the posters and supporting community resources.

We encourage you all to make your own commitment to health equity and join us on this journey to actively eliminate racial discrimination and institutional racism; increase access; deliver sustainable, culturally safe and responsive healthcare services; influence the social, cultural and economic determinants of health; and work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities and organisations.

Regards,

Jackie and Sherry