National Reconciliation Week – an opportunity to be a voice for generations

From the President Dr Dan Halliday 

National Reconciliation Week is another opportunity for the College to consider the role we play to help achieve reconciliation and be a voice for generations. 

It is a time to focus on learning about and reflecting on our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to harness our efforts to build strong, resilient and sustainable health resources and services which reflect the needs of rural, remote and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. 

For ACRRM, working to reconciliation is embedded in all we do. 

Our advocacy and policy target the disparities of the health status of Indigenous Australians and recognise that plans to strengthen care need to be backed by sufficient investment and funding. 

The College also acts to attract, train, and retain Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in rural and remote general practice, to provide quality healthcare in the communities where they are most needed. 

To inform this, we seek guidance and support from the ACRRM Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Members Group, which plays an important role in providing feedback and advice to the College, Board and Council, as well as offering mentoring and mutual support to members. 

Importantly, we focus on these goals through adoption of the College’s second Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan, and we are currently working on the third Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan, for release later this year. 

This week, members and staff are attending National Reconciliation Week events throughout the nation. I thank all members for the work you continuously do towards strengthening your appreciation and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and traditions, and helping the College in our commitment to building Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership in rural general practice and rural generalism. 

I encourage you read the ACRRM Reconciliation Action Plan and this week’s media release for more information on ACRRM’s strategic commitment to taking meaningful action to advance reconciliation. 

Kind regards, 

Dr Dan Halliday 

President