Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP)

Our vision for reconciliation outlined in our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan  (PDF 3.17MB)is for no health discrepancies to exist between the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous populations of Australia. Our aims are:

• The rate of infant mortality should not differ.
• There should be no significant discrepancy in life expectancy.
• The overall rates of disease and sickness should not differ significantly.
• The rates of injury should not differ significantly.
• There should be equity of access to medical and allied health services, including primary care, surgical and other hospital care, as well as after hospital care.
• There should be improvements in the social determinants of health to enable equity in health outcomes.

RACS has committed to:

• Building relationships
  Collaboration and relationships are key to joint strategies and partnerships that achieve significant outcomes in Australia’s First Nations peoples’ health. RACS recommends that Indigenous healthcare policies, projects and research from all institutions, specialty societies and organisations are developed in collaboration with Australia’s First Nations peoples to ensure they are culturally relevant and delivered in an understandable and useful way.
• Building respect
  The College is committed to contributing to improving the health inequities. To achieve this, it is necessary to acknowledge and respect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, communities and histories. Respect through consultation, recognition and celebration contributes to developing respectful, supportive relationships and reflects cultural and community values.
• Building opportunities
  Social and economic factors are strong determinants of the wellness of the individual and their community. These factors are compounded in Australia’s First Nations populations by the multigenerational grief, loss and trauma associated with colonisation, the Stolen Generations, many layers of racism, discrimination, cultural dislocation. The College recognises that Closing the Gap is imperative if disparities in life expectancy are to be addressed.