CESPHN launches its third Reconciliation Action Plan

Central and Eastern Sydney PHN (CESPHN) is proud to launch its third Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan today on board the Tribal Warrior’s boat, the Mari Nawi. Speakers at the event included the Hon. Matt Thistlethwaite, Member for Kingsford Smith, Shaylee Matthews from the Aboriginal Advisory Committee, Shane Phillips, CEO of Tribal Warrior, who provided the Acknowledgment to County and Chairperson of Babana Aboriginal Men’s Group, Mark Spinks. The Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) has been endorsed by Reconciliation Australia and reflects CESPHN’s commitment to develop and strengthen relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the central and eastern Sydney region which stretches from Strathfield to Sutherland and east to the coast.

Building on the work of the second Innovate RAP, launched in 2021, a key priority of this plan is to increase the employment and retention of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander staff within the organisation. CESPHN will be revising its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment and retention policies and promoting CESPHN as an employer of choice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members. Alongside this, Central and Eastern Sydney PHN is committed to supporting Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander owned businesses wherever possible.

CESPHN Board Chair Dr Michael Wright commented,

“Reconciliation is a priority for the Board, and we are committed to strengthening our own knowledge of, and relationships with, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the region. The past 12 months have not been easy for Aboriginal communities in our region. We recognise this and walk beside the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of our region in advocating for social change.”

CESPHN CEO Nathalie Hansen commented,

“As an organisation and as individuals, we strive to create a future where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples enjoy the same level of physical, social and emotional wellbeing as all other Australians. We will do this by actively listening to and learning from our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander colleagues, and by holding ourselves accountable to take action. I would like to thank our Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing Advisory Group who never fail to inspire, provide advice and keep us accountable to execute the actions and objectives outlined in our RAP.”

CESPHN has worked with a range of other organisations to support them in developing their own RAPs and is encouraged to see large-scale businesses in the region taking their own steps to support reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

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View CESPHN’s third Innovate RAP