Medibank has launched its fifth Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
The company says the RAP reaffirms its commitment to addressing the gap in health and wellbeing outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
CEO David Koczkar said the company is on an ongoing journey of learning since launching its first RAP 10 years ago.
“We’ve been listening to our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees, partners, customers and health professionals to understand how we can more effectively play our role in addressing the health equity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities,” he said.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians are more likely to suffer from chronic diseases and have a life expectancy that is 8 to 9 years shorter than other Australians.
“These are confronting, and unacceptable facts and we all need to do better. As individuals and as an organisation, we all have a responsibility to close this gap and improve the health outcomes for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians,” said Mr Koczkar.
Since 2012, Medibank has completed four RAPs and more than 56 actions.
The company's fifth RAP – and third Stretch RAP – builds on its previous commitments with a further 16 new and ambitious actions that senior leaders and teams have committed to owning over the next three years.
Mr Koczkar said increasing cultural responsiveness and awareness within the organisation was critically important in creating a more culturally safe workplace for employees and improving the service offering for customers – two key commitments in Medibank’s fifth RAP.