Reconciliation
We continue to work toward our vision for reconciliation
The activities and planned actions in CESPHN’s 3rd Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) continued throughout this year addressing the key foundations of relationships, respect, opportunities and governance.
Having a Reconciliation Action Plan reaffirms the organisation’s commitment to building and maintaining respectful and meaningful relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities. It also ensures that CESPHN’s programs and practices align with this vision. Strategic guidance for the development of the RAP and its associated initiatives is provided by an external Aboriginal Advisory Committee. Internally, a dedicated RAP Working Group of cross-organisational representatives oversee and track progress on implementation activities. Progress against RAP commitments is reported bi-annually to the CESPHN Board and annually to Reconciliation Australia.
Commitment towards Reconciliation
CESPHN’s 2023-2025 Innovate RAP outlines 18 core activities and 87 actions across four focus areas:
- Relationships: 5 activities, 26 actions
- Respect: 3 activities, 19 actions
- Opportunities: 4 activities, 21 actions
- Governance: 5 activities, 21 actions
In total CESPHN has completed 68 of the 87 RAP actions and is still progressing the remaining actions.
CESPHN celebrated NAIDOC Week 2024 by supporting staff participation in events that honoured Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. Staff attended a range of events including:
- South Cares NAIDOC Festival
- Carriageworks NAIDOC 2024
- SLHD event at Canterbury Hospital
- SESLHD event at Prince of Wales Hospital
- Kurranulla/Sutherland Shire Council event at Gunnamatta Bay.
These experiences deepened cultural understanding and reinforced CESPHN’s commitment to respect and reconciliation.
Facilitated by the CESPHN Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing Program Officer, the Aboriginal Workers Circle has continued to operate online, ensuring regular engagement and collaboration with First Nations employees in commissioned services in our region.
Three cultural training sessions were held for GPs, with highly positive feedback and all participants recommending the training to peers. Sixteen new CESPHN staff also completed cultural training. Feedback consistently highlights the sessions as effective, relevant, and of a high standard. New staff also receive relevant training as part of their induction.
CESPHN remains committed to increasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation within its workforce. We have continued to work towards establishing an internship pipeline with local universities (University of Sydney, University of New South Wales, University of Technology Sydney), and Career Trackers.
The Manager at CESPHN that manages Aboriginal health programs was honoured with the inaugural Dr Mick Asher Award for Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing by Babana Aboriginal, a CESPHN-funded organisation. This award recognised their leadership in Aboriginal Health. The award pays tribute to Dr Mick Asher’s pioneering contributions to Aboriginal healthcare, including his role in establishing Aboriginal Medical Services in Australia.
During 2025 National Reconciliation Week, CESPHN hosted an all-staff event featuring local Elder, who shared a Dreamtime story and insights into their personal upbringing in the La Perouse area. Additionally, staff members also attended a Men’s Health Yarning Circle at the Wayside Chapel.
In May, CESPHN staff attended the RACGP and Joint Colleges Training Services Day. The team hosted a stall and presented to 120 GP registrars about CESPHN’s support for GPs working in Aboriginal health. The presentation prompted further invitations to participate in future training events.
The CESPHN Aboriginal Advisory Committee meets quarterly, with meetings attended by the Chair of the CESPHN Board. This engagement has been well received by committee members and reinforces CESPHN’s commitment to collaborative leadership.
