This week (27 May -3 June 2024) marks National Reconciliation Week .
It is a time to learn about our shared history, acknowledging and celebrating the achievements, culture and wisdom of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and exploring how we can all contribute to reconciliation.
As CEO I want to acknowledge that Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health works on the lands of three Traditional Owner groups, the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung, Dja Dja Wurrung and Taungurung peoples. I also want to acknowledge the achievements, culture and wisdom of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have been custodians of these lands for thousands of years.
We all want health services that are safe and inclusive, providing better health outcomes for everyone in the community.
For many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people health services have not always felt like a safe place due to the legacies of colonisation, the forced separation of families and discrimination, leading to poorer health outcomes.
It is for these reasons that Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health is committed to reconciliation that is both visible and meaningful.
Our staff are sometimes asked why we display the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags on our lanyards and in our reception areas. We do this as a visible signal to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people that they are welcome at our services.
Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health’s commitment to reconciliation goes beyond simply displaying flags. In March 2024 our first Reconciliation Action Plan was endorsed by Reconciliation Australia. This plan commits Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health to continue building relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and organisations, addressing discrimination and increasing our awareness as an organisation about the rich cultures and histories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
By building these relationships and demonstrating a willingness to listen and learn from the unique wisdom and experience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the idea that health services that are safe and inclusive, providing better health outcomes for everyone in the community, is much more achievable.
David Wild
CEO
Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health
