BUSHkids Annual Report | 2023-24

Annual Report • 2023–24

RAP UPDATE REFLECT TO INNOVATE

BUSHkids has a long association with First Nations Queenslanders, spanning many decades. For Western Queensland communities, BUSHkids as an organisation is synonymous with providing vital health care and wellbeing to the children and young people in these small, remote, and very remote communities. The WQ region has a large proportion of First Nations people. A formal commitment to reconciliation not only provides stakeholders with the confidence that … BUSHkids take its responsibility seriously in providing first class services, but also is genuinely committed to the journey of Reconciliation. Sandy Gillies CEO, Western Queensland Primary Healthcare Network

Building momentum in our cultural knowledge of First Nations People

BUSHkids has embraced the opportunities presented under our first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) — our Reflect RAP . We’ve learnt and acknowledged the importance of a deeper understanding of First Nations history, culture and traditions across the many communities we serve. Our Reflect RAP has renewed our commitment to strengthening relationships, building partnerships, and celebrating First Nations culture in a respectful and meaningful way. The Reflect Journey has been a time of listening — valuing the cultural knowledge, wisdom, and stories of First Nations people — and embedding awareness, enhancing our engagement, and adopting collaborative practices and protocols that improve cultural competency within our organisation.

In 2025, BUSHkids will embark on the next stage in the Reconciliation Australia program and commence an Innovate RAP . As we continue our reconciliation journey, we will build on foundations of the work undertaken during our Reflect RAP and undertake strategies to embed cultural safety in the practice of our workforce and how we plan and govern our organisation. In our Innovate RAP we will continue to be guided through leadership provided by our RAP Working Group and RAP Champion using the four domains of Respect, Culture, Relationships and Opportunity . We will work to further our commitment by implementing change, eliminating racism, contributing to greater health equity, and piloting strategies for further reconciliation commitments and empowerment of First Nations people, to be implemented over 2025 and 2026.

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