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Our Vision, Purpose & Values
Our vision is to see Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture leading improved health outcomes for our families and communities.
Our Purpose
To improve the wellbeing of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. To achieve and enjoy the highest levels of health and wellness we:
- honour traditions and cultures,
- work with our people and communities on their health and wellness journeys,
- deliver holistic health services that address physical, social, emotional and cultural wellbeing,
- advocate on the social, cultural, economic and political determinants of health.
Our Values
Our values guide and influence our actions every day, connected by our culture at our heart.
Culture
We acknowledge culture is a vital and unique part of the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We recognise the cultural diversity of our region and seek to incorporate the cultural values, rights and traditions into our holistic approaches to health care.
Respect
We understand the importance of respecting each other’s differences and the different roles we all play in health care. We believe respectful relationships are the foundation to building cooperation, treating people with dignity and strengthening rapport between staff, Board, our partners and our communities.
Community
As a community controlled Aboriginal health service, we honour our connection to community, families and Elders, we value connection and ensure our focus always aligns with their values, priorities and perspectives. We believe a strong community is essential in ensuring the social, spiritual and emotional wellbeing needs of its people.
Sustainability
We believe a culture of sustainability must balance operating efficiency and profitability while maximising access to health care, a skilled workforce and high quality services. We recognise the importance of sustainability to inform decisions and balance longer term considerations with short term needs including financial, cultural and environmental.
Accountability
We are committed to improving the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within our service catchment. Being accountable provides a distinct advantage and contributes to our success. We promote a healthy culture of accountability and transparency, not laying blame, making excuses or avoidance. We are accountable to our communities first and foremost.
Self Determination
We respect and uphold the right to self determination and supporting communities to make decisions about their cultural, social and emotional wellbeing needs. We strive to build strong therapeutic and strength-based relationships and honour the human right to health services that respect the values and beliefs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Relationships
We believe in the importance of relationships founded on trust, honesty and connection through shared values. We recognise the importance of relationships in helping to connect us to each other, but also to our communities and the partners with whom we work with to achieve our vision.
Responsibility
We accept that taking responsibility to ensure high quality services means to act with integrity, honestly, reliability and to lead by example. We believe being responsible values leadership that is creative, informed by cultural values and respectful of everyone’s contribution. Our people are at the centre of owning and driving the actions needed to address their aspirations.
Excellence
We always strive to do the very best we can, to continuously improve our standards, processes and frameworks to deliver high quality program, clinical and corporate governance. We aim to ensure our services are aligned with evidence-based and contemporary standards, informed by our communities’ experience of care.
Our Guiding Principles
Culture
Holistic care
Community control
