EACH Reconciliation Action Plan 2020-2022
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RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN August 2020 - August 2022 ACKNOWLEDGMENT EACH acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Land in Melbourne on which our head office is based, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. We also extend our respect to all Traditional Owners, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across the diverse lands of this country, their Elders, cultures, heritages and their right to determine their own futures. We also acknowledge the knowledge and skills of our Aboriginal staff who are currently working, and have previously worked, at EACH. Totem poles painted by local community members for the EACH Childcare centre. CEO MESSAGE We take pride in the fact that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures are the oldest living cultures in the world. As Australia’s First Nations people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples cared for Australia’s land and waters for millennia. The survival of Australia’s First Nations People, despite Colonialisation, dispossession, systematic injustice and racism for over 200 years is testament to their resilience. The strength and richness that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures bring is an important part of our national story that needs to be told and celebrated by all of us who now share this land. Equally, we must recognise and acknowledge the trauma and tragedies of the past. An honest acknowledgement of this history is essential to reconciliation. In coming to an honest understanding of our history as Australians, EACH acknowledges with deep sorrow the past injustices, the trauma that was inflicted and the failure to understand, respect and value the cultural beliefs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The launch of EACH’s first Reconciliation Action Plan in 2014 established our long-term commitment to take action to strengthen relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous peoples. While much has been achieved, our reconciliation journey continues and we recognise that much still needs to be done to address the inequality in health and wellbeing outcomes in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. EACH recognises that these inequitable outcomes are determined by a range of cultural, social and political factors which are deeply embedded in the fabric of Australian society. Our 2020-2022 Innovate RAP reflects EACH’s service principles of Welcome, Empathy and Hope which resonate well with the key pillars of the RAP program – Respect, Relationships, and Opportunities. These principles will guide us as we continue to deliver inclusive, culturally safe and responsive services and create inclusive opportunities in employment and supplier partnerships. The Plan identifies tangible measures of our commitment to make a difference in the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities. It is EACH’s ‘call to action’ for closing the gap on inequality. Our Innovate RAP will require ongoing and honest conversations, which in turn will provide us with rich learnings into the future. Finally, I would like to thank the National Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group, whose wisdom has guided the development of this Reconciliation Action Plan, along with input and suggestions by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff members, non-Indigenous staff, members of the EACH Ngarrang Gulinj-al Boordup Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing Team and community member representatives. This plan renews our commitment as we continue our journey towards reconciliation. Peter Ruzyla CEO, EACH & EACH Housing Ltd EACH RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN | 4 CONTENTS Our Vision For Reconciliation ................................................................. 5 Our Business ............................................................................................... 6 Our RAP ....................................................................................................... 8 EACH’s Reconciliation Journey .............................................................. 10 Key Learnings Developing Innovate RAP 2020-2022......................... 11 Our RAP Working Group .......................................................................... 12 Reconciliation Milestones ........................................................................ 14 Relationships .............................................................................................. 17 Respect ........................................................................................................ 20 Opportunities ............................................................................................ 23 Governance ................................................................................................ 26 EACH RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN | 5 OUR VISION FOR RECONCILIATION In the spirit of reconciliation and guided by our In the context of our work at EACH, our values, EACH is committed to social justice, and ambition is that we work together in partnership the promotion of health and wellbeing for all in with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander the community. customers, communities and staff to design and provide accessible and culturally safe services For true reconciliation to be achieved, EACH and employment underpinned by: believes in a future where the relationships between the wider Australian community and • Understanding, respecting and representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ are continuously strengthened, that Aboriginal world-views, including historic and current and Torres Strait Islander communities and customs, practices, traditional lore and peoples of this country will be restored to a codes that are part of Aboriginal and Torres place of equity, dignity and respect and that Strait Islander cultural observances. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are • Coming to an honest understanding of empowered to make decisions about their our history as Australians and the resulting own future. intergenerational trauma for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. EACH recognises that since colonisation, successive government policies have • Encouraging and embedding culturally systematically disadvantaged and marginalised appropriate working practices with both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander we acknowledge these past injustices. We also customers and staff to ensure we create recognise that there is still much to be done to environments that are spiritually, socially achieve equality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait and emotionally safe, as well as physically. Islander communities and peoples in life and • Valuing the cultural diversity that enriches, health outcomes and life expectancy. motivates and drives EACH forward. • For true reconciliation to be achieved it starts with all of us. FOR TRUE RECONCILIATION TO BE ACHIEVED IT STARTS WITH US. EACH RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN | 6 OUR BUSINESS EACH is a not for profit social and community Principles, which are evidence-based and health organisation providing an integrated co-designed with customers from the very range of services across Australia including: beginning: 1. We make services safe, responsive and Mental health easy to access 2. We are trained to understand and respond to all your needs Counselling/ Psychosocial support 3. We respect diversity and learn about you and your culture 4. We recognise and respond to the impact Primary health care (Including oral health) of trauma 5. We include the people important to you ndis Disability 6. We believe making change is possible 7. We respect your lived experience and work with your strengths Aged care 8. We work together with you and others to respond to your needs 9. We advocate with and for you and Child/Youth/ Family support your community 10. We are committed to getting better at all that we do. Housing EACH has a comprehensive range of services that address physical, mental and psychosocial Health promotion needs at a community and primary care level, and we are committed to integrated and coordinated service provision. We recognise the increasing need for effective linkages between service areas, particularly for people with At EACH, we recognise that health and complex needs. We strive to provide seamless, wellbeing is significantly and negatively coordinated care that meets these needs. affected by factors such as unemployment, homelessness, financial difficulties, social and Originally established as Maroondah Social cultural exclusion and addiction so we offer Health Centre in 1974 the organisation was a wide range of supports to assist members founded on the principle that all people are of our community to lead happier, healthier entitled to good health regardless of socio- lives. We are committed to integrated and economic factors. EACH has evolved over coordinated service provision, recognising the the last 45 years to become a responsive, increasing need for effective linkages between community-based organisation with locations service areas, particularly for people with along the eastern seaboard. complex needs. We strive to provide seamless, coordinated care that meets these needs. We believe that health and wellbeing are EACH operates under 10 core Service achieved through a holistic approach which includes not only biomedical factors, but the social determinants of health and wellbeing