Media Release
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Queensland Branch, launched its Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) in late 2019, as an on-going commitment to support the national reconciliation movement.
Branch President, Professor Trent Twomey, says that the Queensland Branch and many community pharmacies were celebrating our country’s First Nations people during NAIDOC Week (8-15 November 2020).
“This week we are celebrating the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by sharing heartfelt community pharmacy stories about closing the gap from our members. The stories are being shared on our Facebook page this week.
“Later this week we’ll also be unveiling commissioned artwork called ‘Wurarr-Wurarr’, which was painted by Deann Grant, an Aboriginal woman from the Kuku Yalanji Language First Nation people in the Daintree Rainforest, Far North Queensland, Australia.
“In the past year The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Queensland Branch, has also been implementing our Reconciliation Action Plan, which provides a pathway to improve the ways in which we connect, recognise and contribute to positive health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.
“We hope the Reconciliation Action Plan will provide positive healthcare outcomes and help close the gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through Queensland’s network of almost 1,200 community pharmacies.
“Our Reconciliation Action Plan will support the wider community, by developing closer relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People and organisations.
“Where possible, we’re working to assist in the delivery of better primary healthcare outcomes, by investigating opportunities to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People or organisations to improve the community pharmacy services we provide.
“We are only at the beginning of our reconciliation journey and continue to implement our Reconciliation Action Plan.
“The coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic slowed our implementation, but we’re still working through the plan.
“Community pharmacies are a vital part of our primary healthcare system with the potential to make an even bigger contribution to the health of all Queenslanders and their families.”
Text by: The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Queensland Branch
