Reconciliation at NALHN

Reconciliation: Action speaks louder than words 

The Northern Adelaide Local Health Network (NALHN) is proud to have published its Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2021-2024, the third level of reconciliation, in February 2022. Due to the impacts of COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021, the launch was unfortunately delayed until this time which allowed NALHN to meaningfully engage all stakeholders in its development. 

NALHN is committed to supporting the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community by providing a health service that is free of racism and inequality. A service where all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have access to health services that are appropriate, effective and high quality to overcome the entrenched inequality in health outcomes and life expectancy so that their life outcomes are equal to all Australians.

NALHN Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan 2021 – 2024

Our vision is for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples living and working in the NALHN catchment area to walk together to improve health outcomes for our community.

To achieve NALHN’s vision, we will continue to ensure ongoing meaningful engagement with Kaurna Custodians and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members in our local catchment area to:

  • Understand and accept the wrongs of the past, and lead a service which makes amends for these wrongs
  • Value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and lived experiences, and deliver a health service free of racism
  • Ensure Aboriginal and Torres Islander consumer and community voices are reflected in service design and delivery
  • Proudly unite with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders to reflect culture and heritage within NALHN 
  • Capacity building, workforce and procurement

Our Stretch RAP supports our commitment to ensure that our shared vision for improving Aboriginal health remains integral to our core business and is demonstrated in all areas of NALHN service delivery.

Aboriginal health is everyone’s business, every day, not just on Aboriginal specific significant dates of celebration.

 NALHN Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan 2021-2024 Artwork

Artwork by Elizabeth Close. We recognise Aboriginal cultural authority, and their ongoing spiritual connection to Country.

Elizabeth is a Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara woman from the APY Lands in Central Australia. Now based in Adelaide, Elizabeth’s arts practice has evolved from canvas beginnings and now include large scale public art and digital design. Elizabeth’s work is a unique and distinct fusion of contemporary and traditional Aboriginal art, using vivid warmth to convey the landscape of the APY lands while also drawing upon socio-political themes of identity, forced removal policies, loss of culture and intergenerational trauma.

This Artwork uses the imagery of shapes that fit together like rocks in a creek bed, like all of the moving parts that must work collaboratively in the delivery of health care. Some of the lines and shapes are abstract depictions of the catchment map lines. The coloured dots here represent NALHN staff working collaboratively. The sections with monochromatic line work reference growth - something we must all strive for if we are to attain health equity for all Australians. The textured sections represent consumers - with all of the ‘texture’ of life that brings them to engage with health services. The mix of colours, of earth and water tones, speak to the importance of connection to Country. The pinks and purples evoke a sense of dusk and dawn, something that has significance for me, as colours I associate with being on Country, watching the dusk roll in and turn to night around the fire.

Reconciliation Action Plans

Reconciliation Action Plan Progress Reports