REFLECT
Reconciliation Action
Plan 2015 - 16
ABOUT THE REFLECT RAP
The Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) is about organisations from every
sector turning good intentions into real actions and rising to the challenge
of reconciling Australia. A RAP is a business plan that uses a holistic
approach to create meaningful relationships, enhanced respect and promote
sustainable opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
The RAP program includes four types of RAPs, each offering a different level
of engagement and support. In developing a Reflect RAP, our organisation
commits to completing the following actions over the next 12 months to
ensure we are well positioned to implement effective and mutually beneficial
initiatives as part of future Reconciliation Action Plans. Our future RAPs
will identify relationships, respect, opportunities and actions specific to our
business and our sphere of influence.
This Reflect RAP will allow our organisation to focus on building relationships
both internally and externally, and raise awareness with our stakeholders to
ensure there is shared understanding and ownership of our RAP within our
organisation. Development of our future RAPs will involve consultation with
staff across our organisation including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
staff and stakeholders to achieve our vision for reconciliation.
OUR BUSINESS
Melbourne Primary Care Network (MPCN) operates the North Western
Melbourne PHN as an independent, locally governed and run, not for
profit organisation dedicated to improving primary health care in the local
community. It is responsible for driving improvements in primary healthcare
for thirteen local government areas from across Melbourne’s north and west.
One of the six key priority areas of the organisation is Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander health.
MPCN improves primary healthcare services for our residents by:
•
Making it easier for people to access the services they need, by linking
local general practitioners (GPs), nursing and other health professionals,
hospitals and aged care, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health
organisations, and maintaining up-to-date local service directories.
•
Working closely with Local Hospital Networks to ensure primary health
care services and hospitals work collaboratively for the benefit of their
patients.
•
Planning and supporting local after-hours face-to-face GP services.
•
Identifying where local communities are missing out on services they
need and coordinating services to address those gaps.
•
Supporting local primary care providers, such as GPs, practice nurses
and allied health providers, to adopt and meet quality standards.
Currently MPCN employs 60 staff who provide support to general practice
and other primary health care providers. It implements primary care
initiatives and programs and frontline clinical services. Our dedicated team
focus on the Commonwealth Governments Closing the Gap initiatives to
increase access to mainstream primary health services for Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander peoples. The team also work closely with all staff
to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health is considered in all
program areas.
We are committed to working towards closing the health gap and creating
meaningful relationships, enhancing respect and promoting sustainable
opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
OUR RAP
Since inception, MPCN identified through our Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Needs Assessment (conducted in 2012) that Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander health was a priority. MPCN prioritised work to engage and
support the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population in order to close
the health gap. To improve health outcomes MPCN saw the Reconciliation
Action Plan (RAP) as an opportunity to guide our planning and policy
development.
Consultation with the Reconciliation Australia Program Officer started
in 2013 with the CEO committing MPCN to developing a Reconciliation
Action Plan (RAP). The RAP continues to be championed internally by the
Executive team, Program Officer and Aboriginal Health Coordinator.
The RAP Working Group was established in 2014 and includes
representation from Girraway Ganyi Consultancy, management and staff
from the MPCN Primary Care Services team, Reform and Development
team and Business Services team and the Closing the Gap Program Officer
and Aboriginal Health Coordinator.
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Our partnerships/current activities
Contact details
MPCN has a long history of working in collaboration with Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander partners and stakeholders. Key partnerships and
activities MPCN has undertaken include:
•
Creating a welcoming environment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander clients, partners and stakeholders, by:
- Displaying a plaque acknowledging the Wurundjeri people as the Traditional Owners of the land; and,
- Displaying a painting from Aboriginal artist Jeannie Pitjara Petyarre in the main reception area.
•
Conducting an Aboriginal Population Health Needs Assessment in
February 2013 which provides an evidence base for future planning, and
for prioritising actions to improve the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander peoples living in the catchment.
•
Strengthening the capacity of mainstream primary care services to
provide culturally appropriate services, by:
- Providing annual cultural awareness training; and,
- Promoting the Practice Incentive Program - Indigenous Health Incentive (PIP IHI) to general practice.
North Western Melbourne PHN
(Operated by Melbourne Primary Care
Network)
•
Partnering with cohealth to deliver the Care Coordination and
Supplementary Services (CCSS) program, including primary care
engagement to promote and increase referrals to the program.
Level 1, 369 Royal Parade
PO Box 139
Parkville, VIC 3072
•
Commissioning a consultation to understand the profile of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander patients being admitted into our tertiary hospitals
from country Victoria to determine if our CCSS program could offer more
support to these patients.
•
Acknowledging all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander significant days/
events internally.
•
Participation and representation on a number of regional Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander committees and organisations including:
- North and West Metropolitan Region (NWMR) Project Stakeholder Group Meeting;
- Koolin Balit Wellbeing Partnership Group;
- Coalition for Aboriginal Health Equality, auspiced by the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO);
and,
- Inner North West Melbourne Primary Care Partnership
(INWM PCP), Closing the Health Gap project.
•
Consultation with significant Aboriginal organisations in our catchment
to inform our understanding of the health needs and service gaps of the
local community;
Ms Julie Borninkhof
Executive Director, Primary Care
Improvement
julie.borninkhof@mpcn.org.au
Ms Samantha Smorgon
Manager, Primary Care Engagement
and Support
samantha.smorgon@mpcn.org.au
Ms Katherine Middleton
Program Officer, Diversity in Practice
and Closing the Gap
katherine.middleton@mpcn.org.au
Ms Rosealie Vallance
Acting Coordinator, Aboriginal Health
rosealie.vallance@mpcn.org.au
Phone: (03) 9347 1188
Fax: (03) 9347 7433
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Front page artwork: MPCN commissioned local artist
Lynette Briggs to create an artwork that would reflect
MPCN’s commitment to closing the gap in health for
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our
community.
Title: Walking Together
Artist: Lynette Briggs
Clan Group: Wiradjuri – Yorta Yorta
We acknowledge the peoples of the Kulin nation as the
Traditional Owners of the land on which our work in the
community takes place. We pay our respects to their
Elders past and present.
- Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS);
- Girraway Ganyi Consultancy; and
- VACCHO.
www.mpcn.org.au
© Melbourne Primary Care Network. November, 2015.
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Reconciliation Action Plan:
Relationships
Working in partnership with our local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to better understand
local health issues and work towards our goal for reconciliation and to close the health gap.
Action
Establish a RAP Working
Group, including
representation from
both management and
staff from all areas of
MPCN and an Aboriginal
Mentor to support the
development of the RAP.
Responsibility
Timeline Deliverables
Program Officer, Diversity December
in Practice and Closing the 2014
Gap
Acting Coordinator,
Aboriginal Health
RAP Working Group to meet twice per year.
RAP Working Group Terms of Reference
established.
Manager, Primary Care
Engagement and Support
Executive Director,
Primary Care Improvement
Raise all MPCN’s staff
members’ awareness
of the RAP and the key
actions.
Program Officer, Diversity March 2015
in Practice and Closing the
Gap
Acting Coordinator,
Aboriginal Health
Formally introduce the RAP at an all staff meeting.
Provide staff with quarterly RAP progress updates
at staff meetings. Allow discussion of how each
program area can contribute to the RAP.
Manager, Primary Care
Engagement and Support
Executive Director,
Primary Care Improvement
Celebrate National
Reconciliation Week
(NRW)
Program Officer, Diversity 27 May in Practice and Closing the 3 June 2015
Gap
Acting Coordinator,
Aboriginal Health
Social Media Campaign to raise awareness of NRW
with stakeholders.
Email signature included on all emails to promote
NRW and demonstrate our commitment to
reconciliation.
All staff event – ‘lunch and learn’ to discuss new
approaches to reconciliation within the organisation
and to view a TED talk from Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander speakers on reconciliation and
Indigenous issues.
Continue to enhance
relationships with
Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander
organisations and
investigate new
partnership opportunities.
Program Officer, Diversity June 2016
in Practice and Closing the
Gap
Acting Coordinator,
Aboriginal Health
Manager, Primary Care
Engagement and Support
Executive Director
Primary Care Improvement
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Regular meetings with Aboriginal Liaison Officers
(ALO) to support hospital ALO’s and the Care
Coordination and Supplementary Services (CCSS)
program.
Annual meetings with key Aboriginal Community
Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHO) in
the inner north west Melbourne catchment area
to discuss ways of working together and new
opportunities to pursue.
Regularly attend local working group meetings,
including NWMR Project Stakeholder Group
Meeting, Koolin Balit Wellbeing Partnership Group,
Coalition for Aboriginal Health Equality, INWM PCP
– Closing the Health Gap project.
Reconciliation Action Plan:
Respect
Acknowledging and understanding our history and its impacts on the health outcomes of our local Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities is key to building our understanding and developing long term
relationships, based on respect.
Action
Responsibility Timeline Deliverables
Acknowledge and celebrate
all Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander significant dates,
including Closing the Gap Day
and NAIDOC Week.
Program Officer,
Diversity in Practice
and Closing the Gap
March and
July 2015
Plan events to celebrate Closing the Gap Day and
NAIDOC Week.
Liaise with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander organisations and promote their events to
MPCN staff.
Acting Coordinator,
Aboriginal Health
Social media campaign to promote significant
event dates to our stakeholders.
Provide opportunities for staff to participate in local
events.
Make cultural development
available to all MPCN staff to
increase understanding and
awareness of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander histories,
cultures and contributions.
Program Officer,
Diversity in Practice
and Closing the Gap
Continue to create a
welcoming environment for
Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander clients, partners and
stakeholders.
Executive team
Raise awareness of the
meaning and significance
of the Acknowledgement of
Country and Welcome to
Country to all MPCN staff
members.
Executive team
March and
November
2015
Acting Coordinator,
Aboriginal Health
Cultural awareness training provided twice per
year.
Training to be provided by a local Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander organisation (currently
Girraway Ganyi Consultancy).
All staff encouraged to attend cultural awareness
training.
March 2015
Plaque acknowledging the Wurundjeri people as
the Traditional Owners of the land visible when
entering the MPCN office environment.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artworks
are displayed in our offices along with a full
acknowledgement of the artist and meaning of the
artwork.
June 2016
Develop policy to ensure the Acknowledgement of
Country is performed at all MPCN meetings and
events.
Acknowledgement of the Wurundjeri people
included on MPCN email signature and fortnightly
publications that go to approximately 1200 health
professionals in the MPCN catchment.
Develop an information resource for all staff on the
purpose and importance of the Acknowledgement
of Country and Welcome to country. To be
introduced at an all staff meeting.
Engage general practice in the
importance of improving the
health outcomes of Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander
people.
Support general practice and
health services to provide
culturally appropriate programs
and services to Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander people.
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Program Officer,
Diversity in Practice
and Closing the Gap
Acting Coordinator,
Aboriginal Health
June 2016
Provide opportunities for general practice to
develop culturally appropriate programs and
services.
Encourage general practitioners and practice staff
to complete cultural awareness training (training
provided twice each year).
Promote and support practices to participate in the
Practice Incentive Program – Indigenous Health
Incentive.
Promote the Care Coordination and Supplementary
Services.
Reconciliation Action Plan:
Opportunities
Creating opportunities to both improve health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and
create a more inclusive work environment.
Action
Responsibility Timeline Deliverables
Increase Aboriginal
and Torres Strait
Islander employment
opportunities at MPCN.
Executive Team
June 2016
Business Services
Manager
HR Coordinator
Recruitment and induction processes provide support
and opportunity for self-identification. For example
‘Personal Details Form’ allow employees to identify if
they are from Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent.
A statement that encourages Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander people to apply for positions at MPCN
is included in both position descriptions and job
advertisements.
Develop a business case for Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander employment within our organisation including
opportunities for employment.
Investigate opportunities
to utilise Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander
businesses and services
where appropriate.
Program Officer,
Diversity in Practice
and Closing the Gap
June 2016
Acting Coordinator,
Aboriginal Health
Encourage MPCN staff to utilise Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander local businesses, for example Charcoal
Lane for catering.
Develop a business case for Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander supplier diversity and how MPCN can develop
an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander supplier diversity
program.
Tracking Progress
Ensuring MPCN is accountable to our RAP through regular meetings and reporting activities.
Action
Responsibility
Timeline Deliverables
Provide Reconciliation
Australia with an annual
report of MPCN’s RAP.
Program Officer, Diversity
in Practice and Closing the
Gap
30 Sept. 2015 Complete and submit Reconciliation Australia’s
online RAP Impact Measurement Questionnaire.
Review and report on
RAP achievements and
challenges.
Program Officer, Diversity
in Practice and Closing the
Gap
June and
December
2015
Six monthly progress reports are provided to the
Executive team and Board.
Annually review and
update the MPCN RAP.
Program Officer, Diversity
in Practice and Closing the
Gap
June 2016
Consult with the RAP working group to update the
RAP.
RAP Working Group
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RAP agendas and minutes are available for all
staff to access.