Hear from our leaders

Dr Nicole Higgins
President, RACGP

I am thrilled and deeply honoured to introduce the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners’ Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) for 2024-26, our third RAP and an important milestone in our ongoing journey of reconciliation.

This RAP marks a significant step forward in our commitment to fostering a healthcare environment free from racism. It embodies our unwavering vision for a future where every individual, regardless of their background, feels valued, respected and empowered within our healthcare system.

As a leading organisation representing over 40,000 members across Australia, we recognise the pivotal role we play in effecting positive change. We know that racism not only undermines the health and well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, it also represents a major barrier in our progress towards a just, equitable and reconciled Australia. There is no room for racism in healthcare, and it is incumbent upon us to take decisive action to dismantle its insidious presence.

Our RAP is more than just a document; it is a testament to our collective dedication to reconciliation and healing. It reflects our dedication to creating a culturally safe organisation that fosters continuous education and learning for both our staff and members.

Yet, as we celebrate our achievements, we must also acknowledge the challenges that lie ahead. We acknowledge that achieving equity in health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples requires sustained effort and resolute determination, now more than ever. It is a journey that demands the collective responsibility of each and every one of us.

I am immensely proud to lead an organisation that is committed to driving positive change and shaping a future where all people have equitable access to quality healthcare and unite in a pursuit of a healthier, fairer, and more inclusive society.

Georgina van de Water
Chief Executive Officer RACGP

As CEO of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, (RACGP) I am deeply committed to the outcomes sought through progressing our third Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and I am proud to be announcing its launch.

Drawing from my past experiences, where I’ve been privileged to contribute to initiatives aimed at narrowing the health gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, I recognise the pivotal role our organisation plays in this vital endeavor.

The college is resolute and determined to reaffirm our unyielding dedication to driving forward the cause for reconciliation and ensuring fair and just health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. With the launch of our third RAP, we seize the opportunity to amplify our advocacy and advance tangible progress.

The RAP embodies a shared commitment that extends to every member of our staff and reflects our steadfast dedication to fostering an inclusive culture at the RACGP. By championing equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, we strive for improved health outcomes for all.

Thank you for joining me on this journey.

Dr Karen Nicholls  
Chair, RACGP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

As Chair of RACGP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, I welcome this RAP and the commitments being made by RACGP Board members and staff in our endeavours towards reconciliation. I thank our President for her sincere commitment to reconciliation and healing. I thank our CEO for her understanding that to achieve the commitments under this RAP, all of the RACGP must play their part in meaningful change. I applaud the College’s commitment to eliminate racism in our organisation and I know that if we can achieve this aim it will be of huge benefit to all staff and members.   

Reconciliation is based and measured on five dimensions: historical acceptance; race relations; equality and equity; institutional integrity and unity. I encourage staff to learn more about these dimensions and reflect on how they can support the achievement of these goals in the RACGP context.  

Now More Than Ever is the theme of National Reconciliation Week in 2024, this launch year of our Innovate RAP. I hope that this theme will inspire staff to act, to undertake self-learning and self-reflection. To examine our own bias and to engage with truth telling. To understand the strengths and successes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership.  Let’s envisage an equitable health system for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the steps the RACGP can take to contribute to that aim.   

Each of us has a significant contribution to make, whether that be through embedding understandings of health equity and anti-racism in our advocacy and policy work, ensuring a culturally responsive recruitment process for staff, or taking the time to understand the history of the local communities that we return to after our work day is over. Through this knowledge we will better understand the communities that our members serve.  

I thank our leaders for committing to supporting their teams with the time and resources needed to achieve the aims of this RAP and I look forward to reflecting with RACGP staff and members at the progress that is made through action over the next two years.      

Karen Mundine
Chief Executive Officer
Reconciliation Australia

Reconciliation Australia commends the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) on the formal endorsement of its second Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).

Since 2006, RAPs have provided a framework for organisations to leverage their structures and diverse spheres of influence to support the national reconciliation movement.

With close to three million people now either working or studying in an organisation with a RAP, the program’s potential for impact is greater than ever.

RACGP continues to be part of a strong network of more than 3,000 corporate, government, and not-for-profit organisations that have taken goodwill and transformed it into action.

The four RAP types — Reflect, Innovate, Stretch and Elevate — allow RAP partners to continuously strengthen reconciliation commitments and constantly strive to apply learnings in new ways.

An Innovate RAP is a crucial and rewarding period in an organisation’s reconciliation journey. It is a time to build the strong foundations and relationships that ensure sustainable, thoughtful, and impactful RAP outcomes into the future.

An integral part of building these foundations is reflecting on and cataloguing the successes and challenges of previous RAPs. Learnings gained through effort and innovation are invaluable resources that the RACGP will continuously draw upon to create RAP commitments rooted in experience and maturity.

These learnings extend to the RACGP using the lens of reconciliation to better understand its core business, sphere of influence, and diverse community of staff and stakeholders.

The RAP program’s emphasis on relationships, respect, and opportunities gives organisations a framework from which to foster connections with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples rooted in mutual collaboration and trust.

This Innovate RAP is an opportunity for RACGP to strengthen these relationships, gain crucial experience, and nurture connections that will become the lifeblood of its future RAP commitments. By enabling and empowering staff to contribute to this process, RACGP will ensure shared and cooperative success in the long-term.

Gaining experience and reflecting on pertinent learnings will ensure the sustainability of the RACGP’s future RAPs and reconciliation initiatives, providing meaningful impact toward Australia’s reconciliation journey. Congratulations RACGP on your second Innovate RAP and I look forward to following your ongoing reconciliation journey.