Reconciliation Action Plan

At Country SA PHN we are committed to adhering to the principles of, and advancing, reconciliation. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities form a significant part of the collective country South Australian community. Their diverse range of histories, experience, culture and languages enrich and help form our collective individual and community perspective.

We recognise that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a long and intricate relationship with Country, and we celebrate their diverse culture and heritage. We are committed to reconciliation and building respect, relationships and understanding between Aboriginal and nonAboriginal people. We do this through our personal and professional spheres of influence through education and awareness.

Country SA PHN is fortunate to have direct relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, peak bodies, key stakeholders, Aboriginal Community Controlled

Health Organisations and commissioned service providers. In these partnerships we recognize that self-determination achieves the most appropriate, effective and long-lasting health and wellbeing solutions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in country South Australia.

“At Country SA PHN we are privileged to have this direct connection to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in country South Australia,” said Country SA PHN Chief Executive Officer Mark Hartigan.

“We are acutely aware of the complexities, histories, traditions, languages and cultures that form a delicate web.

“This richness and diversity mean that no two communities are the same – the needs of those communities are as unique as the people who inhabit them.”

We actively stride along our reconciliation journey in our day-to-day activities by applying a lens that is respectful of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to our decision-making right across the organisation. To embed the principles and purpose of reconciliation and assist our actions we have a dedicated Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) working group. Established in 2019 the RAP working group led the creation of the Country SA PHN Reflect RAP that was endorsed by Reconciliation Australia. Throughout 2023-24 the RAP working group has been creating and guided along the next step on our reconciliation journey – the Innovate RAP.

The Country SA PHN RAP working group is comprised of staff members representing all our organisation’s portfolios. Each member brings a unique individual skill set, ideas, perspectives and experiences to share at our monthly meetings to develop the most appropriate collective outcomes.

RAPs are based around three core pillars –relationships, respect and opportunities. These pillars are also reflected in our Strategic Plan through our foundational values of respect, accountability, innovation and the building of strong authentic relationships.

Throughout 2023-24 Country SA PHN embedded these core pillars across the organisation, including through the following activities:

• Organisation wide acknowledgement and promotion of NAIDOC Week and National Reconciliation Week 2024 with posters throughout our office sites, communication, design and facilitation of staff led events throughout the weeks and sharing awareness of these weeks and their significance across our social media channels and through our Country SA PHN email signature banners and video call backgrounds.

• Completion of the RAP Measurement Impact Questionnaire. This is an annual opportunity to reflect on and collate our endeavours to support reconciliation during 2023-24.

• We continued the ongoing important task of raising broad awareness of reconciliation via our social media channels, and the Country SA PHN website, including annual days of recognition such as Mabo Day, National Sorry Day and National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day.

• The artwork created by Aboriginal artist Shane Mankitya Cook for our Reflect and Innovate RAPs continues to effectively demonstrate Country SA PHN’s commitment to reconciliation. This original artwork is proudly displayed at our main office in Nuriootpa and is shown throughout all other Country SA PHN offices. It is used across our many communication channels to create awareness and discussion about our reconciliation journey.

RAPs enable organisations to sustainably and strategically take meaningful action to advance reconciliation.

Reconciliation Australia

• During National Reconciliation Week events were held at our offices across country South Australia including Nuriootpa and Mount Barker and other staff participated online from various parts of the state. These events featured the sharing of and conversations about Indigenous foods from an Aboriginal-owned organisation called Something Wild

• A Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group planning day was held to ensure continued good governance, and the reinvigoration of the working group including the introduction of passionate new staff members who had recently joined the organisation.

• Approval in September 2023 of Country SA PHN’s Anti-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunity Policy, which focuses on the organisation’s commitment to a respectful, safe working environment which is free from all forms of discrimination. This strongly aligns with our draft Innovate RAP Action 4, which focuses on promoting positive race relations through anti-discrimination strategies.

• Throughout 2023-24 Country SA PHN continued to engage with and commission Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations and other providers to deliver effective, culturally appropriate health services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and upskill workforces to enhance capacity such as Allocation of Workforce Development Grants to enhance capacity of staff members of organisations such as Pangula Mannamurna Health Corporation.

• Broadly these include collaboration in the areas of chronic disease management, workforce support, Ngangkari (traditional healer) services, mental health and alcohol and other drug programs and health navigation; such as commissioning Umoona Tjutagku Health Service Aboriginal Corporation to deliver the Access to Chronic Disease Management Support service and the Integrated Team Care service delivered by Yadu Health Aboriginal Corporation.

• Our ongoing commitment to the development of our Innovate RAP as part of one of the five dimensions of reconciliation – Institutional Integrity.

• Aligned with another of the five dimensions of reconciliation: Historical acceptance and race relations, we commit to the delivery of cultural sensitivity and respect training for all Country SA PHN staff, country South Australian general practice staff and our commissioned service providers.

• Country SA PHN’s Primary Care team developed user-friendly education bundles for general practices to target specific communities with health information through their smart phones. These featured Aboriginal local community leaders discussing important topics including Advance Care Planning, Palliative Care and End of Life Care.

• The Port Lincoln Aboriginal Health Service Inc. was a round one Rural Health Innovation Fund (RHIF) grant recipient during 2023-24. Country SA PHN enables RHIF to achieve its vision for better health and wellbeing for all country South Australians. The Port Lincoln Aboriginal Health Service’s initiative created a heart conditions awareness campaign. This included the purchasing of four defibrillators and associated equipment, to bolster community heart health safety in Port Lincoln.

Looking forward

Country SA PHN is committed to continuing our journey toward reconciliation. Aligning with our Strategic Plan values of relationships, respect, accountability and innovation, we view our reconciliation activities as crucial in our aim to improve health equity for the people in regional South Australia, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.