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REFLECTReconciliation Action Plan (RAP)

Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan [2019]

Acknowledgement to Country

Bendigo Health acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land upon which our organisation delivers services, including Dja Dja Wurrung, Yorta Yorta, Baraba Baraba, Wemba Wemba, and Latje Latje and pays respects to elders both past and present.

Bendigo Health recognises Aboriginal people as the Traditional Custodians of the lands in which Bendigo Health is located. We acknowledge the Loddon Mallee Region which we service has a human history that began with Aboriginal traditional custodians. We strongly support recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia’s Constitution and acknowledge that as a result of colonisation Aboriginal Australians continue to confront injustices, poor health and wellbeing outcomes and past trauma associated with the Stolen Generation.

*Note: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that the following document may contain images of deceased persons.

Our business

Bendigo Health is proud to share a part of its geographical range with the Kulin nation which is an alliance of five Indigenous Australian tribes in south central Victoria, Australia, including:

Woiwurrung (Woy-wur-rung) – the Wurundjeri People Boonrwrung (Bun-er-rung) – the Bunurong or Boonerwrung People

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Wathaurrung (Wath-er-rung) – the Wathaurong People Daungwurrung (Tung-ger-rung) – the Taungurong People Dja Dja Wrung (Jar-Jar wrung) – the Dja Dja Wurrung or Jaara People.

The collective territory of the Kulin nation extends around Port Phillip and Western Port, up into the Great Dividing Range and the Loddon and Goulburn River valleys.

Bendigo Health Care Group (commonly known as Bendigo Health), is an expanding regional health service with more than 3,700 staff and volunteers. Bendigo Health is a 698 bed service that treats more than 44,000 inpatients, triages more than 50,000 emergency attendees and welcomes almost 1,400 new born babies in a year. The organisation provides services in emergency, maternity, women’s health, medical imaging, pathology, rehabilitation, community services, residential aged care, psychiatric care, community dental, hospice/palliative care, cardiology, cancer services and renal dialysis to the people of the Loddon Mallee region.

With our main campus based in Bendigo, our services extend throughout the Loddon Mallee with sites in areas such as Mildura, Echuca, Swan Hill, Kyneton and Castlemaine. Demand on services is increasing rapidly with Bendigo being one of Victoria’s fastest growing regional cities. Bendigo Health provides services to the entire Loddon Mallee region - a geographic community a quarter of the size of Victoria and in some cases quite isolated.

Our services in the region are seeing higher than average rates of chronic disease such as diabetes, smoking, alcohol consumption, asthma, mental illness, poor oral health and obesity. The region also experiences above average birth rates in regional centres such as Echuca, Bendigo, Castlemaine and Swan Hill.

At Bendigo Health, our community extends beyond our patients. It encompasses families and carers of patients, staff, volunteers, partners, donors, future staff and the general public; all of whom form unique relationships with Bendigo Health.

Bendigo Health currently have 9 staff who have identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Though we do believe there are more staff who work at Bendigo Health who identify as Aboriginal and /or Torres Strait Islander who have not identified this in their records.

The Loddon Mallee community is ageing, the population is growing but our people are moving out of rural towns into regional centres, with a total catchment population of 320,878 (Victorian Population Projections, 2016 VIF). It is made up of people from all walks of life, with diverse social and economic backgrounds. Our region has the

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highest proportion of Aboriginal Australian’s in Victoria and include the Nations of Latje Latje, Wemba Wemba, Yorta Yorta, and Baraba Baraba.

Our vision for reconciliation

Our vision is that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, their heritage, cultures, and spirituality are valued, respected, and celebrated at Bendigo Health. We are committed to providing health services and employment and training opportunities that are culturally safe, free from racism and enriched by a strong living culture, dignity and justice. Our vision is one where we walk alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in respectful partnership to achieve equity in life expectancy and to reduce premature death and suffering from preventable illnesses. Working towards Closing the Gap in health disparities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.

Our values of being a caring, passionate and trustworthy organisation support our vision for reconciliation. We care for our community and want to have open, honest and respectful dialogue with all our stakeholders.

The following Strategic Goals support our vision for reconciliation:• Health

- Responding to the needs of our community to deliver appropriate care and services. - By developing a RAP Bendigo Health demonstrates a firm commitment to enable a culturally safe

environment for our Aboriginal Community.• Access

- Providing care and services when and where they are needed.- Having a RAP that is published on the RA website allows our Aboriginal community to see Bendigo

Health as an organisation that provides care in a culturally safe environment and therefore encourages them to seek assistance in a timely manner.

• Care

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- Using the consumer and carer experience to improve our care and services- Delivering safe and effective care and services

• Our People- Providing a positive work environment for staff, volunteers and supporters to feel valued, safe and

supported to work together in delivering excellent care and services.

The RAP development encourages Bendigo Health to listen to the voice of our Aboriginal Consumers and include them in the plan for our services.

Statement of Intent - Bendigo Health Board of Directors

Bendigo Health is committed to the successful realisation of our first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). We, as a Board, in collaboration with our staff and clinical leaders, will work to improve our services to ultimately achieve better health outcomes for regional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. This plan is an important formal statement of our commitment to work in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to achieve this.

We are committed to strengthening existing and building new relationships with Aboriginal community members and staff, to seek insight, advice and guidance on the advancement of Reconciliation across the organisation. Bendigo Health is committed to applying systemic changes that are culturally responsive to Aboriginal people and culture in order to bring about positive change to achieve Reconciliation. Our vision is for Bendigo Health to be a place where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, their heritage, cultures and spirituality are valued, respected and celebrated. This ensures access to health services and employment and training opportunities that are culturally safe, free from racism and enriched by a strong living culture, dignity and justice.

Bendigo Health recognises Aboriginal people as the Traditional Custodians of the lands in which Bendigo Health is located. We acknowledge the Loddon Mallee Region which we service has a human history that began with Aboriginal traditional custodians. We strongly support recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia’s Constitution and acknowledge as a result of colonisation Aboriginal Australians continue to confront injustices, poor health and wellbeing outcomes and past trauma associated with the Stolen Generation.

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This, our first RAP, establishes a strong foundation for us to build on, and it will strengthen and inform our plans for the future, as we continue to be part of and positively influence the community conversation about Reconciliation. We look forward to continuing to work with our communities, stakeholders and Reconciliation Australia to achieve the goals that are set out in our RAP.

We acknowledge the hard work of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal leaders at Bendigo Health past and present who have supported this organisation to reach this point. We would be honoured to have elders from across the Loddon Mallee Region support the Bendigo Health Reconciliation Action Plan as we look to them as leaders who we can turn to for inspiration and guidance. This plan is a collaborative effort that we hope will be informed by valuable insight and advice from a number of Aboriginal people from across our communities.

Finally our reconciliation vision is one where we walk alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in respectful partnership to achieve equity in life expectancy and to reduce premature death and suffering from preventable illnesses. Working towards Closing the Gap in health disparities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.

CEO Message(To be completed once RAP doc finalised)

Our Reconciliation Journey So Far

Position of the AHLO at Bendigo Health Since 1993 it has been mandatory for Bendigo Health to ask and report Aboriginal Status of clients. In 2006 Bendigo Health created an Aboriginal Advisory committee. NAIDOC Community day events hosted by Bendigo Health during NAIDOC week each year. 2008-09 Bendigo Health received one off funding grant from the Department of health. AHLO office relocated and created

in front entrance of the Hospital; Aboriginal flag displayed on AHLO department signs; purchase of Flags; Desk flags for all entrance areas to the service and each unit in the Lucan St Campus; purchase of Artwork and Acknowledgement Plaques; posters and promotional material.

2009 Permanently Flying the Aboriginal flag from 6th of July 2009 2011 First Collaborative agreement with Bendigo and District Aboriginal Cooperative (BDAC) (22nd Feb 2011). Subsequent

agreements were signed in 2013 and 2015. Acknowledgment of country and welcome to country policy. First created on the August 2011 and reviewed July 2017.

Now on all meeting agenda templates

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2011 Acknowledgement plaque to country implemented and created in entrance to Lucan Street Precinct. In 2012 Bendigo Health signed a statement of intent in regard to improving health of Aboriginals in the region. 2012 Bendigo Health successful in obtaining two workforce grants to support AHLO management qualification (part

funded) and dental traineeship (fully funded) 2013 Bendigo Health women’s services and BDAC signed their first collaborative collective agreement. Updated 2018 2013/2014 Bendigo Health developed and implemented a cultural and ceremonial leave policy. 2013-14 Creation of the Aboriginal Employment Plan. Updated 2016 2014 Aboriginal graduate nursing program 2014 Aboriginal Traineeship implemented. Dental program 2015 Aboriginal Traineeship implementation. Food services. Residential and food services 2016 New Bendigo Hospital development completed with a new area on the ground floor for Aboriginal services and

including a culture garden and meeting area for patients and families. 2018 Employed female AHLO December 2018. 2019 Celebration of Scarred tree, the Serpent Mindi and the first lighting of the fire pit with Dja Dja Wurrung.

Our internal Champions of the RAP

Bendigo Health’s RAP is championed by our Board of Directors, Executive, Directors, Managers and passionate staff.

Development of the RAP

Community Elders, Bendigo Health Board of Directors, Executive, key Directors and Managers and other staff, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and volunteers who work at Bendigo Health, representation from Bendigo District and Aboriginal Co-operative, Dja Dja Wurrung Cooperation. Patients and Visitors to Bendigo Health.

Our partnerships/current activities

Collaborative agreement with Bendigo and District Aboriginal Cooperative (BDAC)

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Bendigo Health women’s services and BDAC collaborative collective agreement Host an event in Reconciliation week, run cultural training sessions for staff. Presently an informal agreement to support Weenthgunga Health Network with the plan of formalising an agreement into the

future. Bendigo Health Representative on Bendigo’s NAIDOC committee

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Following are the actions that we will work on over the next 12 months to enable our journey of reflection around what reconciliation means for the Bendigo Health community.

RelationshipsAction Deliverable Timeline Responsibilit

y1. Facilitate RAP

Steering Committee Meet quarterly as a minimum and as required. July 2020 –

June 2021Aboriginal Services, Diversity and Health Promotion Department.

2. Build internal and external relationships

Facilitate monthly Bendigo Health Staff Yarning Circles. Facilitate quarterly community barbecue in garden. Facilitate cultural craft sessions in the Aboriginal space Enable community feedback in the Aboriginal Space

through provision of a feedback box. Host Bendigo Health stall at TAFE Indigenous careers day. Facilitate key Bendigo Health staff to attend Bendigo

Aboriginal District Co-operate women’s and men’s sessions.

Facilitate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander volunteers based at the Aboriginal Services.

Enable connection between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities and organisations from other lands within which Bendigo Health provides services, and investigate platforms to do this.

July 2020 –June 2021

Aboriginal Services, Diversity and Health Promotion Department.RAP working Group.Aboriginal Advisory CommitteePeople and Culture Department

3. Participate in and celebrate National Reconciliation Week (NRW)

Nominate a Bendigo Health representative on the Bendigo Reconciliation Committee.

Encourage our staff to visit Reconciliation Australia’s website and promote local National Reconciliation Week events they can attend.

Host a reconciliation event. Create a Bendigo Health CEO pod-cast on what

Reconciliation means to Bendigo Health to be hosted on

July 2020

27 May- 3 June 2021

Aboriginal Advisory Committee

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intranet page. Inform staff, volunteers, patients and visitors about

Reconciliation Australia’s NRW resources and materials through weekly newsletters, on social media platforms, and within key staff meetings.

Support Bendigo staff to participate in external events to recognise and celebrate National Reconciliation Week.

4. Raise internal awareness of our RAP

Create and implement an internal stakeholder strategy. Develop and implement a communication plan to raise

awareness amongst all staff/volunteers/visitors/patients across the organisation about our RAP commitments.

Provide regular updates on RAP activities through newsletters (including the Koori Grapevine), social media and within the Aboriginal Services space.

Present to the Business Unit Managers on our RAP commitment to ensure all relevant areas of BH have an understanding of how their area can contribute to our RAP.

Engage the Board and executive in delivery of RAP outcomes, through 6mthly presentations.

Highlight the RAP in BH annual report.

July 2020 –June 2021

July 2020

July 2020Dec 2020July 2021

June 2020,2021

Aboriginal Services, Diversity and Health Promotion Department.Public Relations Department

RAP Steering Committee Chair.

RAP Steering Committee Chair.

Strategic planner.

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5. Include other unique relationships actions and targets related to our core business and vision for reconciliation.

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RespectAction Deliverable Timeline Responsibili

ty6. Investigate

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural learning and development

Utilise the RAP Barometer to uncover our employee’s current level of understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, history and achievements.

Collect and review baseline data from the Barometer to inform future cultural awareness training needs within BH.

Develop cultural awareness training plan for staff and volunteers at Bendigo Health 2021 -2022 based on data collected.

Investigate continuation of employee surveys on an annual basis to measure impact of cultural learning within BH.

Staff induction and orientation is reviewed and broadened to include Aboriginal programs and services offered by CCWA, acknowledgement to Country and welcome to Country guidelines, Aboriginal engagement information and staff responsibilities around the RAP.

Make available the ‘Share Our Pride’ online resource to all staff and volunteers.

July 2020-June 2021.

Aboriginal Services, Diversity and Health Promotion Team.

People and Culture Department.

Organisation Development.

Public Affairs Department.

7. Participate in and celebrate NAIDOC Week

Ongoing member of the Bendigo NADIOC committee Sponsor of the NADIOC committee Raise awareness and share information about the

meaning of NAIDOC Week with our staff, volunteers, and patients, which includes information about the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities.

Develop and implement a media strategy to promote NAIDOC Week events.

Ensure our RAP Project Group participates in an external NAIDOC Week event.

Seek feedback about NAIDOC Week events and activities that members of our RAP Proejct Group, participated in and report back through our weekly email and social

First week in July

Aboriginal Services, Diversity and Health Promotion Team.

Public Affairs Department.

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media platforms. Include this in the broader communication strategy.

8. Raise internal understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural protocols

Scope and develop a list of local Traditional Owners of the lands and waters that Bendigo Health operates on including the Dja Dja Wurrung, Yorta Yorta, Baraba Baraba, Wemba Wemba, and Latje Latje.

Update and circulate resources which outline where to access information regarding the Traditional Owners of the lands and waters within our organisations sphere of influence

Create and make available correct and appropriate protocols to follow when engaging with Aboriginal communities

Ensure all staff and volunteers are briefed and understand appropriate protocols for engaging with Aboriginal communities and receive appropriate cultural safety information and training to create cultural safety and confidence

Develop and implement a plan to raise awareness and understanding of the meaning and significance behind Acknowledgement of Country and Welcome to Country protocols (including any local cultural protocols).

Creation of clinical pathways including referrals for support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Bendigo Health patients/clients into and out of Bendigo Health.

July 2020 –Sept 2020

Sept 2020 – ongoing

Sept 2020 – March 2021.

July 2020 -Sept 2020

July 2020 –June 2021

Aboriginal Services team.

Public Affairs department.

Aboriginal Advisory Committee.

Aboriginal Services team.

Aboriginal Advisory Committee (Clinical Operations)

9. Celebrate and acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dates of significance

Develop a communication plan for increasing organisational awareness and sharing of significant dates around Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories and achievements.

Promote upcoming events to staff and patients through staff newsletter and other social media platforms and on patient televisions.(e.g. NAIDOC week, Reconciliation Week, Sorry Day) as part of this communication and sharing plan.

Investigate annual Welcome to Country for Baby event.

June 2020 – Dec 2020

Jan 2020 –June 2021

May 2021OngoingJune 2020 –

Aboriginal Advisory Committee.Public Affairs

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Dec 202010.Include other unique

respect actions related to our core business and vision for reconciliation.

Suggestions: Create an environment within all Bendigo Health sites that

are culturally welcoming and friendly places for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Display an acknowledgement to the traditional custodians of the land which may include artwork by local Aboriginal artists and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags.

Establish organisation wide materials that are culturally sensitive, in consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through use of publication policies and style guides.

Ongoing Aboriginal Advisory Committee

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OpportunitiesAction Deliverable Timeline Responsibility11.Enable Aboriginal

and Torres Strait Islander employment

Investigate strategies to increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment opportunities within our organisation.

Investigate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment pathways (e.g. traineeships or internships).

Include, ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply’ in all job advertisements.

Advertise all vacancies in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander media unless the positon specifically targets a different community.

Investigate support strategies to increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders training as key hospital personal including through strengthening relationships with local training provides, La Trobe, Monash and Kangan TAFE. As well as with VACCOH.

Review Bendigo Health’s current Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce plan.

Encourage and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff to take up leadership opportunities within Bendigo Health.

Volunteer strategy reviewed and updated to include specific measures to attract and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander volunteers, including measures for each regional office developed in consultation with local communities.

Strengthen employment pathways into Bendigo Health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in collaboration with universities and TAFE Ongoing commitment to support Weenthunga Network

Ongoing Aboriginal Advisory Committee.Recruitment, People and Culture.

12.Investigate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander supplier diversity

Develop an understanding of the mutual benefits of procurement from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned businesses.

Develop a business case for procurement from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned businesses.

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13.Include other unique opportunities actions related to our core business and vision for reconciliation.

Facilitate a Bendigo Health Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and volunteer mentoring network.

Investigate opportunities to increase pro bono activities. Investigate support scholarships for Aboriginal and Torres

Strait Islander students. Investigate opportunities to become a member of Supply

Nation. Increase support and accessibility for Aboriginal and

Torres Strait Islander peoples to Bendigo Health. Identify opportunities to better assist Aboriginal and

Torres Strait Islander patients and their families with accommodation needs during treatment.

Create protocols that support Aboriginal needs and implications considered in service and program development. Review key areas.

Annual RAP report produced and made public. RAP launched at key event with Welcome to Country and

smoking ceremony.

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Governance and Tracking ProgressAction Deliverable Timeline Responsibili

ty14.Build support for the

RAP Define resource needs for ‘Innovate’ RAP development

and implementation. Define, develop and implement systems and capability

needs to track, measure and report on RAP activities. Participate in the RAP Barometer. Complete the annual RAP Impact Measurement

Questionnaire and submit to Reconciliation Australia.

30 September, 2019?

15.Review and Refresh RAP

Liaise with Reconciliation Australia to develop a new RAP based on learnings, challenges and achievements.

Submit draft RAP to Reconciliation Australia for review Submit draft RAP to Reconciliation Australia for formal

endorsement.

[three months prior to RAP expiry date]

Contact details Include contact details (job title, phone and email) for public enquiries about our RAP.

Name: Andy SloanePosition: Director – Aboriginal Services, Diversity and Health PromotionPhone: 54546579 (0400521781)Email: andrea.sloane@bendigohealth.org.au