The ACA is proud to once again be celebrating National NAIDOC Week from 2-9 July. The week is held in the first week of July from Sunday to Sunday as a way to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
During the week, celebrations are held across the country, providing an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories, and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.
Each year is marked with a unique theme, and this year’s special theme recognises and celebrates the profound impact of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders.
This NAIDOC Week theme, For Our Elders, acknowledges the role Elders have played, and continue to play across every generation, holding a prominent place within communities and families.
They are cultural knowledge holders, trailblazers, nurturers, advocates, teachers, survivors and leaders. First Nations Elders have provided guidance, through generations of advocacy and activism with many drawing from their strength of knowledge and experience, in everything from land management, cultural knowledge, to justice and human rights.
The tenacity and strength of Elders has ensured the survival of First Nations people, so this NAIDOC Week pays respect to Elders lost, and pays homage to those who continue to advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
What is the relationship between ACA and NAIDOC Week?
The ACA’s vision for reconciliation is to see improved health outcomes and participation in health decision making by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities. The ACA also has goals to see an increase in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people graduating as chiropractors, improved access to chiropractic care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and to see the achievement of improved health outcomes and equitable access for all Australians.
NAIDOC Week provides an excellent opportunity for the chiropractic profession to engage with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to build an understanding of culture, knowledge, connection to land and ways of healing.
The ACA’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Rural Remote Practitioners Network (ARRPN) seeks to extend this opportunity by advocating on behalf of the ACA, and the profession, with regards to its role in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and rural and remote health.
At the very heart of reconciliation is the building of respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and histories. This includes the ACA’s commitment to the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). Currently in the Innovate stage, this is the second of four RAP types, with each type designed to suit an organisation at different stages of their reconciliation journey.
As of 2022, Reconciliation Australia has officially accredited and endorsed ACA’s Innovate RAP where by gaining a deeper understanding of its sphere of influence. As part of this journey, there is a focus on developing and strengthening relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The Innovate RAP will progress the ACA’s development of a Cultural Competency Program that will support the development of practitioner cultural awareness. This is so chiropractors understand how to provide effective and safe care that meets the individual healthcare needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients in a way that maintains the patients personal, social and cultural identity.
There are only 1,100 organisations in Australia who have formalised their commitment to reconciliation through a Reconciliation Action Plan, with approximately 76 organisations in the health and medical industry who have endorsed the Innovate RAP across Australia.
By increasing our understanding and developing cultural safety we move a step closer to achieving both our vision for reconciliation as articulated in our Reconciliation Action Plan and our core vision for more Australians to value and experience chiropractic care for their health and wellbeing.
If you would like to learn more about the NAIDOC Week theme or participate in a local NAIDOC Week event, you can visit naidoc.org.au
