Health Minister launches APM Reconciliation Action

APM has launched a new Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) to further the organisation’s commitment to build more relationships and create new opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Australia’s Minister for Indigenous Health, Hon Ken Wyatt, officially launched the RAP at APM’s Mirrabooka office in Western Australia.

It is the third RAP from APM and builds on the success of actions since the first plan launched in May 2011.

Its commitments include increasing opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment and professional development.

Highlights from previous action plans include increasing the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and providing all teams with cultural awareness training.

The second RAP in January 2014 also included forming and maintaining partnerships with 20 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations.

Significant steps taken since APM established a RAP Working Group in 2010 include:

• Cultural Awareness Training as part of the induction process
• Promotion and celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander significant dates
• A guide to conducting an Acknowledgement of Country
• Yarning Circle – a professional group internally at APM for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, for the purpose of providing peer support for our Indigenous staff
• Dedicated Indigenous Resources page on our intranet
• Forming and maintaining partnerships with 20 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations
• Indigenous Suppliers List developed to increase diversity in our procurement for purchasing products or services
• Stationery Procurement Trial in NSW – Kulbardi, Aboriginal owned and operated stationery supplier, is set up to supply stationery and office products to our NSW sites
• RAS delivering Home Support Assessments in Far North Queensland, including the Torres Strait Islands, improving health and aged care services for Indigenous Australians

Click here to see APM’s Reconciliation Action Plan.