Aboriginal readers are advised that the Strategy may contain images and names of deceased persons.

The Aboriginal Health Strategy 2025-2030 (PDF 17MB) was developed in collaboration with local Aboriginal consumers, communities, organisations and stakeholders using a co-design process.

It captures what we have heard as being important to Aboriginal communities in the Riverland Mallee Coorong region, now and into the future, and outlines our commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The Strategy puts us in a position to focus our energies and efforts on a clear path to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to have the best possible quality of life by providing high quality, culturally appropriate care that promotes dignity, respect, choice, independence and social connection. 

It outlines how Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network (RMCLHN) will create a respectful and culturally safe environment that supports equitable access to our health services, that strengthens our Aboriginal workforce and enables us to work more closely with our partners to support our communities holistically. 

It also builds on our commitment to close the health gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians in the RMCLHN region.

Pathways within the Aboriginal Health Strategy

The Strategy includes four pathways to change. 

Respect consumers and connect culture in care

  • know the why
  • respect consumers as experts in their own care
  • recognise and respect cultural protocol
  • walk together to create shared learnings
  • share stories.

Grow relationships

  • further develop partnerships with external agencies
  • improve linkages and collaborate across all services with our mob
  • create environments that are welcoming with staff who are understanding.

Acknowledge and respond to racism in RMCLHN

  • stop all levels of racism
  • provide culturally responsive services
  • take away barriers to accessing services.

Attract, grow and retain our Aboriginal workforce

  • ensure Aboriginal staff feel culturally safe
  • respect and value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, culture and wisdom
  • improve cultural entry points and career progression.

Priorities within the Aboriginal Health Strategy

It also describes our priorities to:

  • improve organisational culture
  • build RMCLHN’s Aboriginal workforce
  • develop stronger partnerships and communication methods with community
  • support equitable early access to health care services that are culturally safe and respectful.

Vision for Aboriginal Health as per the Aboriginal Health Strategy

The Strategy includes our vision for Aboriginal health.

We all leave footprints.

Our ancestors that walked before us left footprints.

Our footprints are a mark of our presence.

Just like our footprints, our actions, and the decisions we make leave an imprint on the people we meet and the systems we work in.

We commit to enhancing our footprints and leaving places better than how we found them.

Adapted from an Aboriginal proverb.

The co-design process

Co-design is a form of consultation and engagement that brings consumers, community, stakeholders, and health services together to plan and design new services.

More than 90 community members attended Yarning Circles in Berri and Murray Bridge to share stories, experiences, and ideas for how RMCLHN can improve our health services to meet the needs of community.

More than 60 staff and key partners attended workshops in Berri and Murray Bridge to share and discuss the Yarning Circle learnings and insights, and analyse population and service utilisation data to see what it could tell us about the community’s needs, and how people are accessing services.

Data and learnings from the Yarning Circles and workshops were shared with the RMCLHN Aboriginal Employee Network in Karoonda to spark innovative ideas about future opportunities and approaches that were considered important to include in the Aboriginal Health Strategy.

More information

Hard copy versions of the Aboriginal Health Strategy are available at our hospitals and health sites.

For more information, please contact the Aboriginal Health team at HealthRMCLHNAboriginalHealthEnquiries@sa.gov.au.

For more information about RMCLHN Aboriginal Health services and initiatives, visit the RMCLHN Aboriginal Health web page.