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The Women’s is achieving major goals in the journey towards reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the wider Australian community.
The Women’s vision for reconciliation is to provide healthcare that is:
- culturally safe
- free from racism
- united by deep respect for First Nations people and their continuing connection to Country – from Birth to Dreaming.
We’re pleased to report back to the community on our performance against the targets set in our 2022-2024 Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
Our performance
We achieved 57 of the 78 (73%) targets in our 2022-2024 Innovate RAP.
We highlight some of the major achievements below. We also outline some deliverables which are still in progress.
Highlights of achievements
Engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff to consult on our recruitment, retention and professional development strategy
We have employed an Aboriginal Employment Support Officer, who is a proud Kamilaroi woman. She has engaged with our Aboriginal Consultation Committee and Aboriginal Employment Working Group to develop this strategy.
The 2024-2026 strategy aims to:
- increase opportunities and enhance the representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff within our workforce, and
- make the Women’s the best place to work, learn and contribute for our First Nations staff.
Developing a business case to expand and enhance our Caseload Midwifery program, including our Baggarrook program, to increase our capacity to deliver services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and babies
Our Baggarrook maternity program is ‘closing the gap’ between health outcomes for First Nations babies and non-Indigenous babies.
For example, the number of Aboriginal babies admitted to our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Special Care Nursery is decreasing, as less Aboriginal babies are born prematurely and/or at low weight. Read more: First Nations mothers and babies thrive under new model of care.
As a result of the business case process, we were able to expand and enhance this important program in the following ways:
- the Baggarrook midwifery team now has 5.6 full-time midwife roles (an increase from 3.6 full-time roles)
- there is a dedicated Social Worker and a dedicated Obstetrician who work closely with the Baggarrook team, and
- we have received philanthropic funding for staff debriefing.
Educating all staff on the effects of racism on colleagues, patients, families, communities the Women’s supports, and the wider healthcare system
In 2024, Aboriginal Cultural Training e-learning became mandatory for all staff at the Women’s. This reflects how important it is that we provide a culturally safe environment for all First Nations patients and staff.
We also offer higher levels of cultural training to all staff - Aboriginal Cultural Competency Training and Cultural Safety Workshops (both facilitated by Koorie Heritage Trust).
Our staff can also engage in informal learning and cultural immersion. This includes:
- Aboriginal walking tours
- participation in ceremonies, activities and events, and
- engaging in storytelling though our collection of Aboriginal artwork on display across the hospital.
Deliverables in progress
Twenty-one targets in the RAP are not yet achieved. This is due to several reasons including key staff roles being vacant while recruitment occurred.
Some of these deliverables will be priorities in our next RAP, including:
- Reviewing and updating procurement practices to remove barriers to procuring goods and services from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses.
- Meeting with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders and organisations to develop guiding principles for future engagement.
- Partnering with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders and like-minded organisations to: inform the potential expansion of our existing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander specific programs and services, and explore opportunities and collaborations to develop new programs and services.
We will build on these solid foundations in our next RAP, which we are developing with Reconciliation Australia.
We thank all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for their generosity of spirit in working with us towards reconciliation.