Top End Health Service (TEHS) has today launched its inaugural Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).

The Reconciliation Action Plan is a plan that uses a holistic approach to create meaningful relationships, enhance respect and promote sustainable opportunities for Aboriginal people.

The plan will be used to demonstrate the vision for reconciliation and assist in producing meaningful, mutually beneficial and sustainable Reconciliation Action Plans.

The plan has been developed in partnership with TEHS’s Aboriginal staff and approved by Reconciliation Australia.

TEHS Chief Operating Officer Michelle McKay said she was pleased to launch the RAP today.

“The RAP provides the opportunity for TEHS to grow and build on new and existing partnerships, to ensure that health services enhance health outcomes, wellbeing, safety and resilience and improve socio-economic outcomes for Aboriginal people and communities,” Ms McKay said.

“The plan sets the future direction of how TEHS and our staff can make a positive difference, through strengthening relationships while creating new ones, effectively responding to consumer expectations and respecting the unique contributions Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff bring to TEHS.

“The RAP outlines TEHS’s commitment to help shape a future in which Aboriginal people and non-Aboriginal people can share in an equitable, prosperous and rewarding future while ensuring its organisational values are culturally appropriate and promote inclusiveness.”

TEHS’s immediate focus is to deliver on the reconciliation outcomes over one year concentrating on relationships, respect, opportunities and tracking progress.

 “We believe reconciliation is part of our organisational responsibility and we can do more to promote the relationship between Aboriginal people and non-Aboriginal people.”

TEHS will continue to support, strengthen and acknowledge Aboriginal people’s values and their contribution within its workforce and communities.

Ms McKay thanked Aboriginal artist Sarrita King, who painted the unique artwork in the plan, which features throughout the RAP, and symbolises the relationship between TEHS and the NT Aboriginal communities.

To see a copy of the Plan, visit our website.

Media contact: Lucy Morrison 0419 818 414