ANZCA’s Innovate RAP
Our vision for reconciliation is an Australian nation where:
- Our shared history is accepted, allowing for a process of recognition and healing.
- All Australians value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and heritage as a proud part of our national identity.
- Equity exists between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and
- other Australians in all areas, including training, employment and career opportunities, health and wellbeing.
In the context of our organisation, this represents:
- High quality patient care and training in anaesthesia, pain medicine and perioperative medicine that values our shared history and is equitable, culturally safe and free from racism.
- Providing culturally safe and tailored career support that aims to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander trainees and peoples interested in a career in anaesthesia, pain medicine and perioperative medicine receive the guidance, mentorship, and resources needed to succeed.
- A workplace that values our shared history and is equitable.
To progress this vision, our second RAP details over 70 deliverables for the college to progress over the next two years across all areas of our operations and through the core RAP pillars of relationships, respect and opportunities. We encourage you to take a look at the RAP and think about how you can contribute to the reconciliation journey.
What we've learned so far
Over the past two years the college has made progress along our reconciliation journey through the implementation of our first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2023-25.
Throughout the RAP’s implementation, we introduced several initiatives to build recognition and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledges and histories within our organisation and our sphere of influence. Relationships have strengthened, and our efforts to support and grow the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce have expanded.
Some of the key outcomes are described in this report.
About the artwork
Artist: Bitja (Dixon Patten)
Tribes: Gunnai, Yorta Yorta, Gunditjmara, Dhudhuroa, Yuin, Djab Wurrung, Wemba Wemba, Wadi Wadi, Yuin.
The art honours the importance of stillness and to deep listen to our breathing. Mother earth provides everything in perfect balance so that life is possible through our ability to breathe. Stillness gives us the opportunity to sit in reflection, to listen to our thoughts; allowing us to take in the good and release the bad.
It also honours anaesthetists and pain medicine specialists and their role in our healing journeys. Whenever society needs operations and surgical procedures, an anaesthetist’s duty is to keep us alive and to monitor our breathing.
The centre circle and ‘U’ symbols represent the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) coming together to learn about First Nations cultures and our collective values and wisdoms influencing their journey in connecting to our communities on a deeper level.
The river (blue path) represents cleansing and one's journey. The earth (red ochre path) represents being grounded and still. Both elements work symbiotically together and are the reason we can live, survive and thrive. The patterns in the river and earth pathways represent breathing in and out, our heart rate going up and down and the electrocardiogram patterns.
The black and white footprints and handprints represents ANZCA’s reconciliation journey.
The gum leaves represent being welcome and growth.
The stones represent healing.
The outer ‘U’ shape symbols represent the wisdom holders, our old people (elders and ancestors).
Related documents
Key documents relating to the ANZCA Reconciliation Action Plan and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.
Explore this section
Our college recognises Te Tiriti o Waitangi as a foundational document that not only shapes the historical and cultural landscape of Aotearoa New Zealand but also informs our approach to medical education, research, and community engagement.
The Indigenous health workforce in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand is integral to ensuring that the system has the capacity to address the needs of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori peoples.
Find out how we're involving Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and Māori communities in policy development and decision-making, and joining forces with medical colleges around Australia and New Zealand to advocate for Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori health.
Explore some of the measures we're taking to create a culturally safe environment for Indigenous Australian and Māori patients and doctors.
In 2023 ANZCA commissioned tohunga Mark Kopua (Te Atianga a Hauiti) to create this special karakia to provide pre-surgery comfort to patients and their families and whānau.