Reconciliation Action Plan
Palliative Care Australia (PCA) is located in Canberra on the land of the Ngunnawal People. PCA wishes to acknowledge the traditional owners of this land, the Ngunnawal People and their Elders past and present. PCA acknowledges and respects their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region.
In July 2021 PCA launched its second Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). The Reflect RAP, which has been endorsed by Reconciliation Australia, lays out important steps which the organisation will be undertaking to work towards reconciliation in Australia.
Our vision for reconciliation
PCA’s vision for reconciliation is for Australia to be connected and living well, with an embedded acknowledgment and respect for Australia’s first peoples.
As the national peak body for palliative care, our mission is to influence, foster and promote the delivery of quality palliative care for all who need it, when and where they need it. We work to improve the quality of life for all Australians with a life-limiting illness, their families, decision-makers and communities.
We acknowledge that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures are dynamic and diverse across Australia, both between differing cultural traditions and also between urban and non-urban locations, and we understand the need to integrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples traditions, values and cultural practices, into both organisational policies and service delivery.
We understand that the place of dying and death is culturally and spiritually significant for many First Nations peoples, and the need to ‘return to country’ is very important for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples at the end of their lives. We also acknowledge the significance of having the opportunity to pass on knowledge of relevant traditions and rituals within community and, where wanted, on country.
We recognise that all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia have a common heritage of loss, and that for an individual close to death and for their family and community, the impact of loss and grief is often compounded by earlier experiences.
PCA works alongside Australia’s peak health bodies to advocate for and achieve health and life expectation equality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
Our RAP
This RAP is a practical tool that will enable the organisation to continue its contribution towards reconciliation in Australia. Our aim is to engage staff internally at PCA and through our Member Organisations, to develop a greater awareness and understanding of the culture and importance Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
Most importantly, we consider our RAP as a vehicle to commit to specific business actions which will enable us to engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders, and ultimately to ensure culturally safe and responsive palliative care resources and services are available for all Australians.
The Reflect RAP is championed by PCA CEO, Camilla Rowland.
PCA Reconciliation Action Plan, July 2021 – November 2022 can be downloaded here.
Refer to PCA Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Palliative Care Resources
