As the nation celebrates NAIDOC Week, WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) is proud to honour the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal Western Australians with the launch of our Innovate Reconciliation Plan (RAP) 2025-2027.
Formally endorsed by Reconciliation Australia, the launch of our Innovate RAP is not just a milestone, it is a reaffirmation of our commitment to walk alongside Aboriginal people, to listen deeply, and to act with purpose. It is a moment to honour the strength, resilience and wisdom of the world’s oldest living cultures, and to commit ourselves to a future grounded in equity, respect and shared healing.
Since 2015, WAPHA has been committed to improving health equity through genuine partnerships and better access to culturally safe care. In 2017, we formalised this commitment by developing our first Reflect RAP, guided by Reconciliation Australia. This foundational step allowed us to listen deeply to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and begin embedding cultural understanding across our organisation.
Our 2021-2023 Innovate RAP deepened our understanding of cultural competency and led to the development of our Aboriginal Cultural Competency and Capability Framework. This framework now guides our internal practices and the services we commission.
Our 2025-2027 Innovate RAP builds on this legacy. It is bold, aspirational, and grounded in our values of courage, humility, respect, wisdom, and integrity. It reflects our commitment to:
- Strengthening partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
- Embedding cultural safety in all aspects of our work including internally within WAPHA and within the services we commission.
- Support primary health care providers, through quality improvement and tailored resources, to deliver culturally safe and appropriate services.
- Advocate for strong strategic partnerships to support work on shared priorities.
This Innovate RAP is not just a plan – it is a promise. A promise to continue learning, to act with integrity, and to walk alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in pursuit of equity and justice.
Our vision for reconciliation is bold and heartfelt. WA Primary Health Alliance envisions a future where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have equitable access to high-quality, culturally appropriate health care. We are committed to fostering a health care system that respects and integrates the cultural values, beliefs, and practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Through genuine collaboration, we aim to reduce disparities and improve health outcomes.
With open hearts, minds and spirits, we will nurture our relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, forging strong connections with place and community. By coming together, we will learn, heal, and move towards a better, more equitable and opportunity-filled future for all Western Australians.
This vision is embedded in every commitment we make, every partnership we build, and every service we commission. Together, we will continue to shape a primary health care system that is not only accessible, but culturally safe, respectful, and empowering.
We would to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has contributed to the development of this RAP – WAPHA Executive, our Cultural Competency, Equity and Inclusion Working Group members, the Aboriginal Empowerment Group, Communications Team, Stakeholder Engagement Team and individuals who hold responsibility for actions within the document. Your wisdom and guidance are the foundation of this work.
“Reconciliation Australia commends WA Primary Health Alliance on the formal endorsement of its Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
This Innovate RAP is an opportunity for WA Primary Health Alliance to strengthen these relationships, gain crucial experience, and nurture connections that will become the lifeblood of its future RAP commitments. By enabling and empowering staff to contribute to this process, WA Primary Health Alliance will ensure shared and cooperative success in the long-term.
Gaining experience and reflecting on pertinent learnings will ensure the sustainability of WA Primary Health Alliance’s future RAPs and reconciliation initiatives, providing meaningful impact toward Australia’s reconciliation journey.
Congratulations WA Primary Health Alliance on your Innovate RAP and I look forward to following your ongoing reconciliation journey.”
-Karen Mundine, Chief Executive Officer – Reconciliation Australia
Download our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan July 2025 – July 2027