ACEM - Australia: Reconciliation Action Plan

The College's vision for reconciliation addresses the inequities in health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The RAP builds on established relationships, respect, and opportunities in our reconciliation journey.

Although our geographical reach includes New Zealand, the RAP relates to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia. The College has an equal commitment to improving the health outcomes for Māori people. While there is alignment in some actions and deliverables for improving Māori health, this will be supported through a separate process to the RAP.

Relationships

The College is responsible for setting standards for emergency departments and can be an agent of change and contribute to improving the health outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Building strong relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is an important mechanism for change. The College engages with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, representative organisations and other relevant stakeholders to build and maintain these strong relationships.

Emergency departments must be culturally safe and competent environments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Cultural safety extends to the promotion, recruitment, retention and support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical graduates undertaking emergency medicine training.

Action	Deliverable	Timeline	Responsibility	Progress
1. Establish and maintain a Steering Group to actively monitor implementation of RAP actions, track progress, reporting and review.	Develop Terms of Reference and establish Steering Group, incorporating broad representation across ACEM and ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are represented.	December 2016	RAP Reference Group Chair	Complete
	Meet at least four times per year to monitor and report on RAP implementation.	Schedule Meetings February 2017, February 2018	RAP Steering Group	Complete
2. Promote the RAP to all ACEM members, trainees, staff and other stakeholders.	Promote reconciliation through active engagement with all stakeholders.	December 2018	All Exec. Directors RAP Steering Group	Ongoing
	Promote reconciliation through the development and delivery of an implementation strategy, to communicate the RAP to all internal and external stakeholders:	March 2017	Executive Director Communications and Engagement (C&E) RAP Steering Group Office of CEO	In Progress
	Printing a limited number of hard copy publications.	March 2017	RAP Steering Group	Completed
	Providing all identified stakeholders with an electronic copy of the RAP.	March 2017	Exec. Director C&E	Completed
	Engaging with the College of Emergency Nursing Australasia (CENA) and the Australian College of Emergency Nursing (ACEN) for collaboration in promoting reconciliation with emergency department nurses.	December 2017	Office of CEO	Ongoing
	Using social media and other media sources to inform a broader public audience on what ACEM is doing with its RAP.	December 2018	Exec. Director C&E	In Progress
	3. Celebrate and participate in National Reconciliation Week (NRW) by providing opportunities to build and maintain relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians.	Continue to organise at least one internal event for NRW each year and register the ACEM NRW event via the Reconciliation Australia’s NRW website.	May 2017, 2018	Executive Director Operations (Ops)	Completed
		Promote the Reconciliation Australia’s NRW resources to ACEM members and staff.	May 2017, 2018	Indigenous Health Subcommittee (IHSC) Exec. Director C&E	Completed
		Ensure our RAP Steering Group participates in an external event to recognise and celebrate NRW.	May 2017, 2018	RAP Steering Group	Completed
		Support or promote an external NRW event.	May 2017, 2018	IHSC Exec. Director C&E	Completed
	4. Enhance and maintain mutually beneficial relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities and organisations to support positive outcomes.	Develop an engagement plan to work with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders in progressing the ACEM RAP deliverables:	July 2017	RAP Steering Group	Completed
		– Establish a relationship with the Wurundjeri Elders Council to support the ACEM RAP implementation.	December 2017	Office of the CEO	In Progress
		– Develop guiding principles for the broader emergency medicine community to engage with their local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and organisations.	March 2018	IHSC	In Progress
		– Raise cultural awareness in emergency medicine by working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community representatives, primarily through representation on ACEM Councils and other relevant Committees.	Review July 2017	ACEM Board Office of the CEO	Completed
		Continue to engage with Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association (AIDA), the Leaders in Indigenous Medical Education (LIME) Network, and the Lowitja Institute to further support emergency medicine Fellows, Trainees and future Trainees.	Review November 2017	IHSC Executive Director Education and Training (E&T)	Ongoing
		Continue the relationship with the Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges (CPMC) Indigenous Health Subcommittee.	Review November 2017	IHSC	Ongoing
		Continue to collect and encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members to self-identify in the ACEM portal.	December 2017	Executive Director Policy & Research (P&R) Exec. Director C&E	Ongoing

Respect

The College respects and values the rich diversity of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, language, history, customs and practices. Respect is a crucial element of the reconciliation journey.

Action	Deliverable	Timeline	Responsibility	Progress
5. Improve emergency medicine physician and trainee knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health issues and outcomes.	Develop and implement an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural awareness training strategy for ACEM staff, which defines the cultural learning needs in relation to all areas of ACEM business considering various ways cultural learning can be provided (online, face to face workshops or cultural immersion).	December 2017	Exec. Director Ops	In Progress
	Develop guidelines for emergency departments to integrate cultural awareness into the daily work practices and processes for all staff.	December 2017	IHSC	In Progress
	Deliver a cultural competency program and cultural immersion opportunities for ACEM leadership group (ACEM Board, ACEM Foundation, Senior Leadership Team and other senior office-bearers).	June 2018	Exec. Director Ops
	Promote learning based on Reconciliation Australia’s Share Our Pride online tool to all staff and members through the ACEM Bulletin.	May 2017, 2018	IHSC Exec. Director C&E	Completed for 2017
	Ensure all new ACEM staff receive a copy of ACEM’s RAP upon commencement of employment and undertake the Indigenous Health & Cultural Competency Training Modules within their probationary period.	June 2017, June 2018	Exec. Director Ops	Completed and Ongoing
6. Engage ACEM members and staff in cultural learning opportunities to increase understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories and achievements.	Develop and implement an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural awareness training strategy for ACEM staff, which defines the cultural learning needs in relation to all areas of ACEM business considering various ways cultural learning can be provided (online, face-to-face workshops or cultural immersion).	December 2017	Exec. Director Ops	Ongoing
	7. Establish a mentoring program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Fellows and trainees at ACEM.	Gain assistance, advice and support from AIDA and local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and Elders in developing a quality, culturally appropriate mentoring program for Fellows and Trainees.	December 2017	IHSC Exec. Director E&T	In Progress
		Prepare a mentoring implementation strategy based on advice from AIDA and local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and Elders.	July 2018	IHSC Exec. Director E&T	In Progress
		Ensure mentors are culturally competent to mentor Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Fellows and Trainees.	July 2018	IHSC Exec. Director E&T	In Progress
	8. Promote awareness and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural needs in emergency departments.	Consult with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders to develop a recommendation for individual emergency departments to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land.	December 2017	IHSC Standards Committee	Completed
Based on this recommendation, draft a policy outlining the process for emergency departments to achieve the above acknowledgement.		March 2018	IHSC Exec. Director P&R
Maintain the Indigenous Health & Cultural Competency Training Modules, encourage ACEM members to complete these modules, and continue to allow public access.		July 2017	IHSC Exec. Director E&T	Completed and ongoing
9. Engage ACEM staff in understanding the significance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural protocols, such as Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country.	Include Acknowledgement of Country in ACEM staff email signatures, ACEM’s web homepage, and at the commencement of significant internal and external meetings.	February 2017	Exec. Director Ops	Completed
	Develop, implement and communicate a cultural protocol document for Acknowledgement of Country and Welcome to Country.	July 2017	IHSC Exec. Director C&E	Completed
	Continue to display an Acknowledgement of Country plaque in ACEM head office.	Review July 2017	Exec. Director Ops	Completed and Ongoing
	Continue to display Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artwork at ACEM head office.	Review July 2017	Exec. Director Ops	Completed and Ongoing
	Obtain artists’ names and titles of these artworks, and display them beside the works.	May 2017	Exec. Director Ops	Completed
	Engage with Wurundjeri Elders Council to conduct a Welcome to Country annually for the new incoming members of the Council of Advocacy, Practice and Partnerships or Council of Education meetings.	March 2018	Office of CEO IHSC Exec. Director C&E	Ongoing
	Develop a protocol for a Welcome to Country ceremony to be performed at the Annual Scientific Meeting, the ACEM Winter Symposium and Faculty conferences.	May 2017	IHSC Exec. Director C&E	Completed
	Develop a list of key contacts for a Welcome to Country ceremony.	March 2018	IHSC Exec. Director C&E	In Progress
10. Include a component of Indigenous health and culture at the ACEM Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM).	Prepare a proposal to the Scientific Committee outlining how and why Indigenous health and cultural practices can be included in the ASM from 2018 ASM forward.	April 2017	RAP Steering Group Exec. Director C&E	Completed
11. Demonstrate respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by celebrating National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Week.	Continue to provide a NAIDOC celebration at ACEM head office.	First week of July 2017, 2018	IHSC Exec. Director Ops	Complete
	Review HR policies and procedures to ensure there are no barriers to staff participating in NAIDOC Week.	July 2017	Exec. Director Ops	Completed and Ongoing
	Alert and promote NAIDOC Week to all emergency departments with the aim of:	June 2017, 2018	IHSC Exec. Director C&E	Complete
	– Encouraging all emergency departments to enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff to participate in their cultures and communities during this celebratory period.	June 2017, 2018	IHSC Exec. Director C&E	Completed
	Enable all ACEM Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff to participate with their communities during NAIDOC Week.	July 2017, 2018	Exec. Director Ops	Complete
12. Continue to recognise significant dates of relevance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities.	Continue to inform staff and members about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dates of significance through the weekly bulletin, social media and other communication channels.	July 2017, July 2018	IHSC Exec. Director C&E	Ongoing
	Extend an invitation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to share their experiences or stories at ACEM events, e.g. NRW events, Winter Symposium, NAIDOC Week, staff development days.	July, 2017, 2018	IHSC Exec. Director C&E Exec. Director Ops	Ongoing

Opportunities

ACEM encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical students and graduates to consider emergency medicine (EM) as a career. The presence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander EM physicians in emergency departments, creates a more accessible and culturally safe environment, improving quality health care and increasing earlier treatment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The College contributes to employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through improving business practices and building relationships with relevant stakeholders.

Action	Deliverable	Timeline	Responsibility	Progress
13. Continue to encourage and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical students and graduates to pursue emergency medicine as a career.	Engage with AIDA, the LIME Network, Medical Deans Australia and New Zealand, and existing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members to better understand the factors that influence Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical students and graduates to enter emergency medicine, with the aim of increasing the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical graduates choosing emergency medicine as a career.	December 2017	Exec. Director P&R	Ongoing
	Continue to provide and promote opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advanced Emergency Medicine trainees through the Joseph Epstein Scholarship.	Review December 2017, 2018	ACEM Foundation Exec. Director C&E	In Progress and Ongoing
	Continue to provide and promote ACEM Foundation conference Grants for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical practitioners, medical students and other health professionals for the ACEM Winter Symposium and the ACEM Annual Scientific Meeting.	Review December 2017, 2018	ACEM Foundation Exec. Director C&E	In Progress and Ongoing
	Continue to provide sponsorship support for Indigenous conferences such as the AIDA Conference, the Lowitja Institute, International Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Conference, Pacific Region Indigenous Doctors Congress, and LIME Connection.	Review December 2017, 2018	ACEM Foundation Exec. Director C&E	In Progress and Ongoing
	Investigate flexibility in training options for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander trainees who have to leave their Country or Community to fulfil curriculum requirements to become a specialist emergency physician.	December 2018	Exec. Director E&T	In Progress
	Investigate opportunities, and encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander doctors to undertake the Emergency Medicine Certificate and/or Diploma [link to EMC/EMD pages].	December 2017	Exec. Director E&T	In Progress
	Investigate the establishment of a scholarship for Indigenous doctors to undertake the Emergency Medicine Certificate and Diploma.	July 2018	IHSC ACEM Foundation Exec. Director C&E	Completed
	State in all expressions of interest for ACEM programs and committees “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are encouraged to apply”.	July 2018	Exec. Director C&E	Ongoing
14. Increase ACEM trainee exposure to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health issues in the curriculum.	Establish and develop a program and criteria suitable for a Special Skills Term for emergency medicine trainees in Indigenous Health.	July 2018	Exec. Director E&T Accreditation Subcommittee IHSC	Completed
	15. Provide opportunities to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander professional administrative employment at ACEM.	Develop an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander administrative employment and retention strategy, which includes:	December 2017, 2018	Exec. Director Ops	Ongoing
		– Reviewing HR and recruitment procedures and policies to ensure there are no barriers to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees and future applicants.	December 2017, 2018	Exec. Director Ops	Completed and Ongoing
		– Stating in all administrative job advertisements, “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are encouraged to apply”.	May 2017, 2018	Exec. Director Ops	Completed and Ongoing
		– Advertise all administrative vacancies in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander media.	May 2017, 2018	Exec. Director Ops	Completed and Ongoing
		– Investigating the establishment of a scholarship/mentorship program for recruitment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples within the administrative areas of ACEM.	December 2017	Exec. Director Ops	Completed
		– Encourage ACEM Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff to self-identify in ACEM’s employee services portal.	July 2017	Exec. Director Ops	Ongoing
		– Collate information on our current Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff to inform future employment opportunities.	September 2017, 2018	Exec. Director Ops	Ongoing
		– Engage with existing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff to consult on employment strategies, including professional development.	July 2017, 2018	Exec. Director Ops	Ongoing
	16. Investigate opportunities to incorporate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander supplier diversity within ACEM business operations.	Review ACEM’s purchasing guidelines and procedures to identify any barriers to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses to supply our organisation with goods and services.	July 2017	Exec. Director Ops	Completed
Investigate the options for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to be the suppliers of local cultural immersion experiences.		July 2017	Exec. Director Ops	In Progress and Ongoing
Develop and communicate to staff a list of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses that can be used to procure goods and services.		December 2017, 2018	Exec. Director Ops	Complete
Develop one commercial relationship with an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander owned business.		July 2017	Exec. Director Ops	Completed and Ongoing
Investigate Supply Nation membership for the purpose of engaging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses to supply ACEM with their services.		July 2017	Exec. Director Ops	Completed and Ongoing
17. Advocate for more Indigenous Health Liaison Officers (IHLOs) to be employed in hospital emergency departments.		Continue to develop a relationship with the Lowitja Institute to inform the advocacy for emergency departments to be culturally safe environments through collaborative research.	December 2018	Exec. Director P&R IHSC	Ongoing
		Undertake research into the role, benefits, and costs of employing IHLOs in emergency departments.	December 2018	Exec. Director P&R IHSC	In Progress
		Draft a position statement outlining the importance of IHLOs in emergency departments that can be used to lobby hospital administration.	December 2018	Exec. Director P&R IHSC	Completed

Tracking Progress and Reporting

ACEM Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2019-2021 Consultation
ACEM launched its inaugural RAP in 2017. We are now in the process of refreshing our RAP. We welcome your feedback.

The College has made good progress to embed reconciliation in the business of the College, and to establish partnerships with key organisations. We have built a solid foundation to progress our focus for the next two years:
- Workforce: supporting our existing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce and growing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander emergency physician and ACEM staff workforce through education, training and other initiatives.
- Service Delivery: integrating cultural safety into emergency departments and ACEM staff practices through education, training and other initiatives.
- Engagement: Strengthening our relationships with key external stakeholders.

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