Reconciliation Action Plan 2015-2018
Aspen Medical
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Reconciliation Action Plan
Reconciliation and Aspen Medical
Introduction This is Aspen Medical’s first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). As a privately-owned medical solutions-based company, we provide immediate healthcare services to remote areas and/or regions of high demand. We have engaged in a variety of projects and programs that have funded research into key Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health issues and delivered primary healthcare services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This RAP represents our plan to move to a new stage in our engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and more broadly with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We aspire to engage, partner and work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in a meaningful way to deliver improved health outcomes and employment, training and business outcomes. Aspen grew out of a need to provide the highest quality healthcare in areas of high demand. A key feature of Aspen operations is our ability to operate in areas where medical services are either at a premium or non-existent. We are committed to making profound, practical contributions to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health outcomes as contained within the Council of Australian Government’s Close the Gap agenda. We have developed partnerships with remote health services and organisations throughout Australia. We have built on these relationships and experiences and will apply our expertise to deliver a set of meaningful and achievable outcomes in this RAP. It is widely understood that reconciliation involves learning about culture and developing respect for that culture and embracing differences so we can move forward together. I will be encouraging all employees of Aspen to take practical steps to improve our knowledge and observance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, protocols and histories. Aspen has taken its first steps. We envisage this RAP will be a sound business initiative and a worthy journey for us all to take.
Glenn Keys Executive Director
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Aspen Medical
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Reconciliation Action Plan
Our vision for reconciliation Aspen Medical will effectively provide tangible and practical examples of the principles of reconciliation through the provision of healthcare. We will seek to form positive relationships through partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples that develop, nurture and harness real potential in our healthcare business.
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Aspen Medical
Reconciliation Action Plan
Our business Aspen Medical provides a comprehensive suite of medical and environmental health services to support operations in remote and austere environments as well as in metropolitan areas. Our expertise lies in understanding the requirements of our clients and developing a cost-effective solution for them. We provide comprehensive health services delivery solutions, ensuring our clients are informed and well positioned to make the best decision for their communities and their organisations. We employ over 2,000 people with 11 team members identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. We have offices in Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne, Darwin, Alice Springs, Sydney, Newcastle, Adelaide, Townsville, Cairns and Perth as well as overseas. We provide tailored health solutions with unique medical services, that may include: • personnel • medical equipment supply and maintenance • medical facilities • expert environmental and occupational consultation • aero-medical evacuation services • allied health, dental and surgical services • patient management practices • legislative and insurance requirements • training • consultancy • logistics support.
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We also provide medical facilities and equipment, that may include: • creation of purpose-built medical facilities • provision of mobile and relocatable medical facilities • design and fit-out of medical facilities • operations and maintenance of medical facilities • all necessary medical and healthcare equipment, including maintenance and calibration • all ambulance system design and establishment services and then operating the service • arranging the transport and installation of mobile medical facilities.
Office locations
Cairns Townsville
Darwin
Brisbane Alice Springs
Newcastle
Perth
Sydney
Adelaide
Canberra
No. of sites per State
ACT
8
NSW
106
QLD
58
SA
27
WA
34
VIC
46
TAS
8
NT
117
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Aspen Medical
Reconciliation Action Plan
Our RAP Aspen Medical decided to develop a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) to provide a systematic and considered approach to its engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities. Over the years we have engaged in a variety of projects and programs that have funded research into key Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health issues and delivered primary healthcare services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. However, we have decided to enhance our engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and more broadly with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We aspire to engage, partner and work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in a meaningful way to deliver improved health outcomes and employment, training and business outcomes. This will enable us to respond more effectively to the requirements of the organisations we seek to partner with and provide services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The RAP was developed in a two-phase process. Initially we engaged an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business, Ochre Business Consultants led by Ms Toni Ah Sam, to engage and consult with the company's Executive and senior team to build an understanding of what a RAP involves and to generate thinking about possible concepts and opportunities the RAP could include. Ms Ah Sam then led a workshop with this group to identify the aspirations and concrete ideas that could be incorporated into the RAP. A key part of the process was Ms Ah Sam’s ability to lead the group through a process that generated a heightened perception of the opportunities and linkages that flowed from a more strategic approach to engagement that focussed on business and employment opportunities. Subsequently a working group refined the RAP led by Ms Toni Ah Sam and including Mr Craig Fitzgerald, Director – Corporate Social Responsibility and Mr Philip Roberts, General Manager of Remote Area Health Corps, to a working document for consideration and input from Reconciliation Australia. Mr Glenn Keys, Executive Director of Aspen Medical, actively supervised this process with a focus on achieving substantive goals. Finally, the working group broadened its membership to interested staff members and presented the draft document to the entire team to gain input, feedback and ultimately buy-in to the RAP. We consider this buy-in from all parts of the company as essential to the
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success of the RAP and the achievement of meaningful outcomes. Mr Craig Fitzgerald and Mr Philip Roberts will champion the RAP internally along with members of the working group across the entire Aspen Medical Group.
The journey towards our RAP 2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
• With the establishment of Aspen Medical subsidiary, Remote Area Health Corps, and the provision of health professionals across the Northern Territory, we became acutely aware of the challenges that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples face, particularly around health. • The owners of Aspen Medical formed the Aspen Foundation. To date, the Foundation has solely focussed on the eradication of diseases prevalent in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Since 2009 the Foundation has funded organisations working in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities working to improve hygiene education and also to eradicate trachoma and scabies. • The Aspen Foundation commenced its support of those organisations targeting the eradication of trachoma. • RAHC achieves its 1000th placement. • The Aspen Foundation, with the support of the Christian Blind Mission and Melbourne University’s Indigenous Eye Health Unit, funded and developed the first ever free online trachoma treatment module for health professionals. • Aspen Medical engages an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business, Ochre Business Consultants, to engage and consult with the Executive and senior team of Aspen Medical to build an understanding of what a RAP involves and generate thinking about possible concepts and opportunities the RAP could include. • The Aspen Foundation funds the charity Take Pride. Take Pride focusses on delivering hygiene programs across Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Far North Queensland and the Torres Strait. • RAHC achieves its 2000th placement. • The Aspen Foundation commits to supporting One Disease At A Time in their mission to eradicate crusted scabies in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
2014
• The Aspen Foundation funds a second free online eye health module for health professionals. This module focusses on preventable blindness in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. • The Aspen Foundation funds Malpa in their delivery of the Young Doctors program in Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Young Doctors is a health leadership program which trains young people to be health ambassadors in their communities. It is designed and run by local Elders, respected community members and supported by health workers. • Input sought from the entire Aspen Medical team and a draft sent to Reconciliation Australia for input. Formal launch of the RAP.
2015
• RAHC achieves its 3000th placement.
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Aspen Medical
Reconciliation Action Plan
Aspen Foundation The Aspen Foundation was established in 2009 as a health promotion charity. The Foundation’s mission is to undertake life-changing healthcare through significantly reducing or eradicating key illnesses in the Australian community and providing education for the sustainability of improved health practices. A key focus of the Foundation has been to provide public health education to remote communities. Through its healthy skin and eye programs the Foundation has set a goal of helping to eliminate trachoma and crusted scabies in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The Foundation is closely aligned with the RAP as Aspen Medical is committed to providing healthcare solutions to remote areas and regions of high demand across Australia. For more information about the Foundation please go to http://www.aspenfoundation.org.au.
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Remote Area Health Corps The Remote Area Health Corps (RAHC) was established in 2008 to strengthen the delivery of primary health services in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. It is designed to increase the pool of health professionals available for work in remote Northern Territory Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities by attracting urban-based health professionals. RAHC recruits, orientates and then provides each new-to-remote health professional with comprehensive training and ongoing tailored support to help them to successfully transition to remote practice. The health professionals who undertake such work include Registered Nurses, General Practitioners, Oral and Allied Health professionals. RAHC collaborates closely with its stakeholders including the Aboriginal Medical Service Alliance Northern Territory (AMSANT), Northern Territory Government Department of Health and Aboriginal Medical Services (AMS) as well as relevant training bodies to maintain the delivery of an appropriate and responsive program. RAHC has proven itself to be an effective model of delivering workforce into remote communities in the Northern Territory. The program has delivered more than 2,700 placements since December 2008 and has developed a pool of over 700 health professionals who have successfully made the transition to remote practice. An important part of the program is that on their return to their urban home location, health professionals are more attuned to the needs and cultures of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples they have served. This represents practical reconciliation in action. For more information about RAHC please go to http://www.rahc.com.au.
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Aspen Medical
Reconciliation Action Plan
Relationships Aspen Medical is committed to building strong, enduring relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through close partnership and collaboration as an integral part of its healthcare services. Focus area Making significant contributions to improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. This commitment extends to engaging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health professionals and open communication/consultation with key stakeholders.
ACTION
RESPONSIBILITY
TIMELINE
TARGET
1. R AP working group
Executive Director
July 2015
• A RAP Working Group is formed and
established to monitor
operational to support the development of
development of the RAP
our RAP, comprising Aboriginal and Torres
including implementation,
Strait Islander people and other Australians.
tracking and reporting.
• Bi-monthly meetings are held to monitor RAP progress.
2. Subject Matter Expert Panel established which includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous experts in the health sector both internal and external to Aspen Medical.
Medical Director
November 2015
• Meet twice per year to monitor the progress on the actions coming out of the RAP. • The panel members consist of reputable professionals in the healthcare industry. The panel will also seek expressions of interest and/or approach various individuals directly to see if they wish to make a contribution. • Terms of reference to be established to outline roles and responsibilities of those on the panel.
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ACTION
RESPONSIBILITY
3. S trengthen existing
TIMELINE
TARGET
• Establish a database of all current local
General Manager,
September
relationships and explore
RAHC and other
2015
new and appropriate
General Managers
relationships with the
where required
contacts including other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander NGOs and corporate bodies. • Ensure that the local contact database is
Aboriginal and Torres Strait
available to all Aspen Medical staff on the
Islander communities,
internal IT system.
organisations, business and
• Invite local Aboriginal and Torres Strait
corporate Australia where Aspen Medical offices are
Islander peoples in the healthcare
located across Australia.
industry to comment on current RAP and associated plans. • Develop a commitment statement to work in partnership with key Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups, organisations and businesses. • Publish the commitment statement on the Aspen Medical and RAHC websites.
4. Invest and participate in opportunities to engage in
Director,
July 2015
Marketing
• Encourage all staff to organise and participate in one event each year.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait
• Encourage RAHC to participate at a local event
Islander days of significance
in both and/or either Darwin and Alice Springs
that support and promote
each year.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. 5. As part of the ongoing commitment and relationship building with Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander communities, Aspen will particiate in National Reconciliation Week (NRW) events
Director, Marketing
May 2016
• Starting in 2016, organise one event across each Aspen Medical location to celebrate NRW. • Encourage all staff to participate in external NRW events. • Aspen Medical to host an event to highlight the work it does through RAHC. • Encourage all RAHC staff to participate at a local level in Darwin and/or Alice Springs each year.
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Aspen Medical
Reconciliation Action Plan
Respect Aspen Medical acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Nations of Australia. We value and respect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures as an important part of the fabric of Australia. As an organisation we stand by our commitment to earn and demonstrate mutual respect. Focus area Continuing the work Aspen has started.
ACTION
RESPONSIBILITY
TIMELINE
TARGET
1. Consult with local Aboriginal
General Manager,
September 2015
• Develop protocols and educate all staff via
and Torres Strait Islander
RAHC
internal IT systems on why and how Welcome
communities to develop and
to Country and Acknowledgement to Country
understand the importance
protocols are practiced.
of Welcome to Country and
• Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement
Acknowledgment of Country
to Country incorporated into all significant
protocols.
2. Provide ongoing cultural awareness training for all staff as a commitment to promote awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
events and meetings. General Manager, RAHC
October 2015
• Amend current Induction programs to include cultural awareness training. • Aspen Medical to identify local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural consultants to deliver awareness training at a local level. • Develop a database of preferred Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural consultants to supply cultural awareness training throughout Australia.
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ACTION
RESPONSIBILITY
TIMELINE
TARGET
3. P rovide opportunities for
Director, CSR
September 2015
• Identify through charity partners how Aspen
staff to experience cultural events around Australia through volunteering.
Medical staff can volunteer to assist at
Director,
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural
Marketing
events, conference and festivals throughout Australia.
4. Encourage and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees to attend cultural events and community activities throughout NAIDOC (National Aboriginal and Islander Day of Observance Committee) Week events.
Director, Marketing
July 2015
• Encourage RAHC to participate at a local event in both and/or either Darwin and Alice Springs each year. • Provide opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees to participate in local NAIDOC Week events. • Aspen Medical will participate in at least one event and promote this through their annual calendar to inform all staff about National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week. • Each Aspen Medical office participates or hosts a local event that is appropriate to their location and existing relationships with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
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Aspen Medical
Reconciliation Action Plan
Opportunities Aspen Medical is committed to working in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to improve their access to business and employment opportunities with our company. Focus area Aspen Medical is committed to developing healthcare solutions in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples around Australia. This will be achieved by offering mutually beneficial opportunities through joint ventures and strategic alliances with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses across Australia.
ACTION
RESPONSIBILITY
TIMELINE
TARGET
1. Investigate opportunities
Director, CSR
September 2015
• Establish, develop and implement an Aboriginal
within Aspen Medical to increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Director, Human Resources
employment and training
General Managers
opportunities in both the
of Operations
clinical and non-clinical operations of the business.
and Torres Strait Islander Employment and Training Strategy. This strategy will factor in recruitment, career pathways, professional development and retention. • Investigate and identify potential opportunities to sponsor and/or offer full scholarships to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health professionals such as doctors, paramedics, registered nurses and dental nurses. • Offer a minimum of two cadetships and/or traineeships to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for non-clinical positions such as: Accountants, Human Resources, Marketing and other administrative positions. • Develop and implement a mentoring program to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and/or students receive support throughout their training, studies and/or employment with Aspen Medical.
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ACTION
RESPONSIBILITY
TIMELINE
TARGET
2. I nvestigate and identify
General Manager,
August 2015
• Identify how to become a member of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait
RAHC
Supply Nation.
Islander owned businesses
• Develop a database of potential Aboriginal
that could be engaged as
and Torres Strait Islander businesses that
suppliers for Aspen Medical.
Aspen Medical endorses as suppliers of different services and products. • Ensure that the database is available to all staff via the internal IT systems. • Develop and implement an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Business Strategy which will identify potential businesses to provide products and services to Aspen Medical.
3. I nvestigate appropriate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and other organisations to develop
Director, CSR
December 2015
• Develop a list identifying existing and potential healthcare organisations, registered
General Managers
training organisations, professional health
of Operations
associations with the purpose of entering into high level agreements with.
stronger partnerships, strategic alliances and agreements with the purpose of engaging with local communities. 4. Investigate opportunities for collaboration with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses for
Director, CSR General Managers of Operations
December 2015
• Develop a document that details potential Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses.
mutual benefit.
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Aspen Medical
Reconciliation Action Plan
Tracking progress and reporting ACTION
RESPONSIBILITY
TIMELINE
TARGET
1. R eport achievements,
Director, CSR
June 2016
• RAP progress is reported each year in the RAP Impact Measurement Questionnaire.
challenges and learnings to Reconciliation Australia
• RAP Impact Measurement Questionnaire
for inclusion in the Annual
is provided to Reconciliation Australia by
Impact Measurement Report.
2. Monitor and evaluate the Aboriginal and Torres Strait
September each year. Director, Human
June 2016
Resources
• Provide progress report to Executive two yearly for their review.
Islander Employment and
• Progress reports to Subject Matter Expert
Training Strategy.
Panel on for their feedback on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment Strategy.
1. Monitor and evaluate the
Director, CSR
December 2016
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Business Strategy.
• Provide progress report to Executive every two years for their review. • Progress reports to Subject Matter Expert Panel on for their feedback on Indigenous Employment Strategy.
Contact details Craig Fitzgerald Director – Corporate Social Responsibility +61 (0)2 6203 9500 cfitzgerald@aspenmedical.com.au
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CONTACT
FOLLOW
DISCOVER
2 King Street Deakin, ACT 2600 Australia
CRE8IVE 13706 0814
Phone +61 (0)2 6203 9500