First Nations Health

Question 1

How to bridge the gap of discrimination and racism against First Nations people in healthcare.

Answer 1

1. Work in accordance with the 2024 RANZCOG Reconciliation Action Plan.
2. Educate self on RANZCOG initiatives towards improving disparity between indegenous and non-indigenous health outcomes.
3. Recognise and uphold indigenous people’s rights to autonomy and self determination in their health decision making.
4. Regularly complete the mandatory RANZCOG cultural safety and awareness training program.
5. Participate in institutional NAIDOC week and National Reconciliation programs in order to deepen my understanding and appreciation of First Nations peoples and culture.
6. Actively seek to build mutually respectful and beneficial relationships with First Nations people/colleagues in order to develop a culturally safe and effective manner of communication with my First Nations patients.
7. Attend ASM and RANZCOG symposiums where focus is placed on First Nations perspectives on health and health initiatives.
8. Commit to RANZCOG and institutional initiatives to remove barriers to First Nations patients engaging in health seeking behaviour such as early referral to the Aboriginal liaison service, use of culturally appropriate educational materials in consultations, consulting resources such as Aboriginal Midwifery led antenatal clinic.
9. Advocate for First Nations patients in accordance to the Ulurru statement from the heart and the close the gap program.