The RACGP Reconciliation Plan 2020-2022

Reflect RAP and beyond

Our previous Reflect RAP (November 2014) was developed by the RAP Project Team and RAP Steering Group, comprising representatives from the RACGP Executive Leadership Team, RACGP staff, Manager of the National Faculty of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health, and cultural advisors who were also members of the then faculty Board.

The RACGP progressed the activities of the Reflect RAP largely through the faculty. These activities are outlined in further detail below.

While the RACGP remained committed to reconciliation, it became apparent that no one area should be responsible for its implementation. A key lesson of the intervening years since the Reflect RAP has been that reconciliation and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health needs to be everyone’s business.

Another key lesson has been the need for additional resources to support the development and sustainability of the RAP and reconciliation activities.

Reconciliation is everyone's business

The RAP process is a reminder to the organisation that ‘Aboriginal health is everyone’s business’. Embedding accountability across the organisation ensures that everyone can play a role in the RACGP’s reconciliation process.

The RACGP has committed dedicated resources to support the development and facilitation of the RAP and reconciliation activities. These resources, together with the RAP Working Group, focus on ensuring everyone plays a role in reconciliation at the RACGP. Leaving reconciliation to one area prohibits other people from getting involved and from it being sustainable.

Actions of the RACGP since launching the Reflect RAP include the following:

Advancing a comprehensive online cultural awareness education and cultural safety training program for all staff and GPs using Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations
Developing the third edition of the National guide to a preventive health assessment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Acknowledging and hosting significant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander events for staff during National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week and for Close the Gap Day
Supporting a number of campaigns, including Close the Gap, as well as supporting the Redfern Statement and the Uluru Statement from the Heart
Continuing active membership of the Steering Committee for the Close the Gap campaign
Introducing five days of cultural and ceremonial leave for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff in the 2019 Enterprise Bargaining Agreement
Participating in a ‘lunch and learn’ program with invited guest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander speakers
Developing its relationship with the Wurundjeri People, the Traditional Owners of the land where the National Office is located, through engaging the Wurundjeri Council to officiate at events and perform ‘Welcome to Country’ ceremonies
Producing Closing the gap with the RACGP’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander GPs – a publication featuring nine Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander GPs across Australia working to ‘close the gap’ in health outcomes
Regularly featuring the National Faculty of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health events and news in the RACGP’s social media and newsGP; in November 2019, the RACGP ran the Close the Gap campaign Twitter page for the month as part of its membership of the Close the Gap Steering Committee
Displaying in each RACGP office across Australia the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags, and a plaque acknowledging local Traditional Owners; artwork is also on display in several offices
Offering the following annual awards:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical student bursary award – the recipient is fully supported to attend the RACGP annual conference
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander general practice registrar award (Growing Strong Award) – a scholarship of $5000 to support attendance at the RACGP annual conference, with residual funds going to examination fees, generously donated by Dr Nathan Pinskier and Ms Pinskier
- the Standing Strong Together award, recognising a partnership between a Fellow or member of the RACGP and an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation or individuals

In addition to the above, the National Faculty of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health:

runs Yagila Wadamba, a two-day general practice registrar training and exam preparation workshop that supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander registrars working towards Fellowship, and works closely with AIDA and the Indigenous General Practice Registrars Network
is active in advocacy, contributing regularly to broader RACGP policy statements and submissions to government on issues related to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, and writing or contributing to feature articles for the RACGP’s online news publication newsGP.

The RACGP is also a key partner of Leaders in Indigenous Medical Education (LIME), sponsors their conferences and regularly engages with LIME in key activities.

The RACGP has a position statement on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, which has recently been updated, and a range of additional position statements relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, including on Racism in the Healthcare System. Our remaining position statements are due to be updated in 2020.