Today, Joint Colleges Training Services (JCTS), the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) mark the beginning of National Reconciliation Week, embracing this year's theme 'All In' – a call for all Australians to commit wholeheartedly to reconciliation every day.
All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have the right to culturally safe and responsive health care, free of racism and inequity. Despite a number of improvements in the health care system, substantial disparities remain in many health outcomes between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous Australians.
Reconciliation is fundamental to improving these outcomes. Cultural safety is a shared responsibility for the organisations training and supporting Australia's General Practice (GP) and Rural Generalist (RG) workforce.
The work of ACCRM, RACGP and JCTS demonstrates that culturally safe training and workforce development lead to improvements in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patient experience, access to care, workforce capability, and trust in the health system. These outcomes directly contribute to reducing individual harm, experienced through unsafe or discriminatory care, and collective harm, reflected in persistent health inequities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Continued focus on this work is essential to achieving equitable health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
ACRRM, RACGP and JCTS are committed to working in genuine partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, embedding cultural safety across the health system, and supporting a workforce that delivers care grounded in respect, trust, and understanding.
Delivering a consistent and culturally responsive GP and RG workforce is central to this commitment, with JCTS playing a key role. ACRRM, RACGP and JCTS are committed to providing registrars on the college training pathways with the skills they need to provide culturally responsive healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Through the joint venture between ACRRM and RACGP, JCTS supports the delivery of tailored programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander registrars in partnership with Indigenous General Practice Trainee Network (IGPTN), contributing to the growth and empowerment of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical health workforce.
ACRRM, RACGP and JCTS also support the Australian Indigenous Doctors' Association (AIDA), whose purpose is to achieve equitable health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities by reaching population parity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander doctors.
We reaffirm our commitment to meaningful action as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of Reconciliation Australia.
JCTS Chair Professor Peter O'Mara says cultural health education and safety training is critical for long-term change in health outcomes.
"Through JCTS, we are embedding cultural safety into GP training and supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander registrars. This is about building a workforce that is not only clinically capable, but culturally responsive and equipped to deliver better care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities."
ACRRM President Dr Rod Martin says RGs play a critical role in improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, particularly in rural and remote communities.
"Reconciliation must be reflected in how we train and support doctors working in communities where the need is greatest. Through our work, we are strengthening culturally safe care and supporting a Rural Generalist workforce that is responsive to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients."
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright says general practice plays a critical role in delivering culturally safe, high-quality care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
"RACGP is committed to supporting GPs to provide care that is culturally responsive, respectful and free from racism. Through our Reconciliation Action Plan and our work with partners, we are helping build a health system that better meets the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their communities."
