CareSouth is inclusive of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities and is committed to making a positive contribution to the reconciliation process in several ways.

This year CareSouth appointed an Aboriginal Community Development Officer to facilitate partnerships and improve service delivery for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients and the wider community.

The key goals of the Aboriginal Community Development Officer include implementing CareSouth’s Aboriginal Employment Strategy and its 2016-2019 Reconciliation Action Plan, as well as developing a consistent cultural support plan for CareSouth’s Indigenous clients.

CareSouth is dedicated to inspiring and attracting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to seek career pathways in the Community Services sector and our Aboriginal Community Development Officer is integral to this process through networking, relationship building and actively raising awareness.

CareSouth will release its second Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) later this year. The RAP working group, led by the Aboriginal Community Development officer, has spent the past financial year developing the 2016-2019 document. The working group, which started in 2012 and consists of five staff from across the organisation, meets monthly to ensure CareSouth’s everyday practices are inclusive of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and promote reconciliation.

As an employer and service provider to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, CareSouth has a responsibility to honour their past through our active commitment to reconciliation. We understand the importance of reconciling the past and moving forward in an authentic way by actively participating and taking advice from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and our staff.