annecto has received a coveted 2016 Better Practice Award from the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency (AACQA) for ‘Improving Accessibility through Cultural Safety’.
Better Practice Awards celebrate projects, initiatives or programs that act as exemplars for other aged care service providers and to encourage continuous improvement. They recognise and disseminate better practice and innovation in the aged care sector.
“This award means a lot to annecto. The award highlights our overall approach to seeking meaningful relationships with and our wish to contribute sustainable opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations to create solutions that are culturally safe and connected,” explains annecto’s Chief Executive Officer, Estelle Fyffe.
Working in partnership with Aboriginal organisations in Western Sydney, including KBHAC and Babana Aboriginal Mens’ Group, annecto became aware of a concerning low level of take up of available home care packages by older Aboriginal people.
“The annecto team responded to the concerns and reached out with the help of the Elders to identify the barriers faced by older Aboriginal people. Lack of a strategic approach to creating culturally safe practices was contributing to poor outcomes. We took a grassroots approach and identified key community leaders who shared the same concerns, and could help us build bridges and have conversations with the community that have informed our practice,” says Michael Hercock, annecto’s Manager in Sydney.
This project saw the commencement of an Aboriginal Liaison Officer, the development of a supportive Aboriginal Reconciliation Plan; and, in partnership with Elders and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Organisations, regular events, forums and celebrations to continue to build authentic and honest partnerships.
annecto frequently run community consultations to inform their work, ensuring information about what is important to people in the community, is at the heart of their work.
“Through community consultations we recognised the social disadvantage and how culturally safe practices can enable better outcomes,” said Ms Fyffe.
For more information, contact Jodie Henry on (03) 9687 7066 or email jodie.henry@annecto.org.au.
