Launching our second Reconciliation Action Plan

Yesterday we celebrated the unveiling of our second Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) together with colleagues from across the RMH at our Royal Park site.

The RAP features artwork by Aboriginal artist Kenita-Lee McCartney, with the original piece unveiled at the event.

This included a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony delivered by Stacey Piper-Nicholson, and speeches about the importance of working together towards Reconciliation. 

Guests were then invited to sign an artwork to signify their commitment to action.

In attendance were representatives from our governance committee, allies, the RMH executive team and executive champion, Chief Nursing Officer Adjunct Professor Kethly Fallon.

Kethly reaffirmed the RMH’s commitment to “leading meaningful change”.

“At the heart of our purpose - advancing health for everyone, every day - is the need to address the health disparities experienced in our health system by First Nations peoples when compared to non-Indigenous Australians,” Kethly said.

“Today, we reaffirm our dedication to improving the experience of First Nations people when accessing healthcare services at the RMH and in doing so aim to assist in Closing the Gap.”

Since launching our first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), the RMH has taken many steps to improve cultural safety for patients and consumers, as well as strengthen our First Nations workforce. This includes:

• Investing in building up our First Nations workforce
• Undertaking a First Nations community consultation project in collaboration with the Royal Children's Hospital to seek feedback relative to Cultural Safety in our Emergency Departments
• Establishing a smoking ceremony procedure to support end-of-life care for First Nations patients
• Incorporating Indigenous inspired selections into our Food Services through the development of a ‘Mob Meal’ plan
• Achieving 90 per cent staff participation in cultural awareness training, which emphasises the importance of asking, “Do you identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander?”

The RMH is committed to advancing Reconciliation with First Nations peoples and fostering a more inclusive and equitable healthcare system for all.

Read the Royal Melbourne Hospital Innovate RAP to find out more about these services.