The Royal Women’s Hospital continues its journey of healing between the hospital and the Aboriginal community through an annual Sorry Day commemoration ceremony.
|
Each year, the Women’s acknowledges Sorry Day and provides a report back to the community on our work towards reconciliation and our aspirations for the next 12 months.
The theme for the 2011 Women’s Sorry Day event was, “Our Journey of Healing – Let’s talk Recognition.” Staff and guests were invited to gather at the main entrance of the hospital. Aunty Di Kerr, an elder of the Wurundjeri people, performed a smoking ceremony and welcome to country outside the main entrance. Dale Fisher, the Women's Chief Executive, then presented the Women’s report back on the hospital’s continued commitment toward reconciliation and the Women’s priorities for the year ahead.
|
“We are here today to reaffirm our commitment to righting the wrongs of the past and continuing along the path of reconciliation,” the Chief Executive of the Women’s, Dale Fisher, told the gathering.
In her speech, the Women’s CEO Dale Fisher reaffirmed the hospitals commitment to righting the wrongs of the past and continuing along the path of reconciliation with the Aboriginal community.
Ms Fisher said the Hospital is working together with Aboriginal communities to create an environment that is culturally safe and welcoming for Aboriginal women and families.
In 2008, Ms Fisher made an apology on behalf of the hospital Board and staff to the Stolen Generations, Aboriginal women and their families for past practices and policies of the hospital.
|
 | Di Kerr, Dale Fisher and Lisa Maza.
|
| The Women’s has been working toward reconciliation for more than a decade. Saying Sorry to the Aboriginal community for the hospitals past practices and policies that included the removal of aboriginal babies from their mothers was a necessary action to progress the journey of healing.
Other symbolic but also meaningful initiatives include the location of the Women’s Aboriginal Women’s Health Business Unit in a visible and accessible part of the hospital, flying the Aboriginal flag in front of the hospital as a welcome to our indigenous community and beginning all public events with an Acknowledgement of the Traditional Owners of the Land.
|
|
|
|
In her speech during Sorry Day in 2010, Ms Fisher said "We have also provided training, information, advice and support to staff to identify Aboriginal people using our services; we work with the Aboriginal community, we celebrate NAIDOC Day and commemorate Sorry Day. We have established the hospital’s Reconciliation Working Party – a formal committee with responsibility for overseeing the implementation and monitoring of our reconciliation efforts."
|
“We trust we are slowly gaining the trust of the aboriginal community. The signs of this are promising as our figures show that more Aboriginal women are choosing the Women’s for their care. Between 2008 and 2009 there was a 21 percent increase in the number of Aboriginal women admitted to the Women’s, and a 40 percent increase in the number of Aboriginal women attending outpatient appointments.
|
“I am committed to making sure that the Women’s continues to find better ways of welcoming and caring for Aboriginal women and their families, and that ultimately there exists true confidence in the Aboriginal community that the Women’s is a safe place for them.” The Sorry Day acknowledgement began with a Smoking Ceremony and Welcome to Country by Aunty Di Kerr, and concluded as Lisa Maza entertained the crowd of staff, visitors and patients. 
|
For more information please call:
|
Sofia Dedes, Media Manager, the Royal Women’s Hospital, phone: (03) 8345 2953, 0400 512 618.
|
