Echuca Regional Health reconciles

By Adair Winder

Jun 2, 2022

Sharing knowledge: Echuca Regional Health’s Aboriginal Liasion Officer Aunty Sonya Parsons spoke of the Dhungala River and the history of the land. Photo by Steve Huntley

More than 40 staff and community members attended Echuca Regional Health’s National Reconciliation Week ceremony on the morning of June 1.

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Hosting the event was Aunty Sonya Parsons, Aboriginal Liasion Officer at ERH, who educated staff about Country, welcomed staff to Country and conducted a smoking ceremony.

ERH chief executive Robyn Lindsay said National Reconciliation Week provided people with the opportunity to stop, reflect and say sorry to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

“We acknowledge that hospitals, unfortunately including ours, have been responsible for contributing to intergenerational trauma,” Ms Lindsay said.

“Even today the healthcare system still falls short on providing access to health services and to employment that is culturally safe, free from racism and enriched in the culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

“Whilst we have made some positive progress, we acknowledge that we still have a way to go. We will continue to work with Community, with Njernda and with the Yorta Yorta nation to take more positive steps forward together.”

Ms Lindsay thanked Aunty Sonya for her contribution to ERH.

“We are really proud of the work and dedication of Aunty Sonya and the service that she provides to our community and our health service,” she said.

An open invitation was provided to all ERH staff who were available to attend the event.