National Reconciliation Week - More than a word

The Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as the first custodians of this nation. We pay respects to the resilience, strength and wisdom of Elders past, present and emerging.

We also acknowledge the historical relationship between pharmacy and First Nations peoples, and their vast knowledge in native plants and their uses.

As National Reconciliation Week commences, we invite all Australians to engage in activities that celebrate culture, promote truth telling and build awareness. This year staff at APC will watch a Yarra Ranges Council webinar 'Our Country, Our Future, Our Shared Responsibility'. To promote the Uluru statement from the Heart we encourage people to sign support for the First Nations Voice to Parliament.

This year's theme 'More than a word. Reconciliation takes action', encourages us to transform that awareness and knowledge into action. Our vision is to do this through our role as the standard-setting body for pharmacy education.

Our APC strategic priorities include a pillar of "Improving Indigenous Health" and are explicit in the activities we will undertake to provide a culturally safe pharmacist workforce in Australia. These activities are undertaken in true partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Our decisions are made in collaboration with our Indigenous Health Strategy Group.

This year we will launch our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) to advocate for change in a deliberate way.

Our vision is to see a health system that is free from racism and discrimination. We want First Nations people to enjoy the same level of health and wellbeing as non-Indigenous. We want to see improved health outcomes, equal opportunity, and self-determination.

Through education as a means of individual and collective transformation, we hope to see trust in our healthcare system and basic needs being met. We understand that we cannot achieve this without collaboration, meaningful relationships and creating a sense of belongingness.

“Recognise that difference exists but find similarities that draws people together to create a sense of belongingness. Belongingness creates relationships, and relationships create better health outcomes,” says Dr Faye McMillan, APC Board Director, and Deputy National Rural Health Commissioner.