Our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP)

What is a RAP and why is it important to SAHMRI?

RAPs are practical plans of action to help advance Reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians in workplaces and beyond. They help build understanding, promote meaningful engagement, increase equality, create sustainable employment opportunities and other positive outcomes in these environments.

Since its inception, one of SAHMRI’s priorities has been to incorporate Aboriginal health research across all of its research and as a key platform of SAHMRI business – Aboriginal health is something that is at the heart of everything SAHMRI does.

As a relatively new and developing health and medical research institute, SAHMRI has the opportunity to develop a platform for Reconciliation that can have a far-reaching impact on staff, research projects and, in turn, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and broader community.

An effective RAP will influence the work of the institute, as well as the interactions and potential outcomes of key research partners both here in South Australia and across Australia.

Clyde's role is to coordinate SAHMRI's Reconciliation Action Plan, steering the SAHMRI Community along its Reconciliation journey through education, support and guidance.

Clyde is a Ngarrindjeri man from the Lower Murray River, Lower Lakes and Coorong of South Australia who has more than 20 years’ experience in Aboriginal community development who brings a combination of leadership, governance experience and cultural knowledge to SAHMRI.

In addition to his RAP role, Clyde is a member of SAHMRI's Wardliparingga Aboriginal Health Equity Theme supporting engagement and capacity building.

SAHMRI is at a significant stage of its RAP journey, currently developing its second - Stretch - RAP, which will focus on becoming a visible leader in Reconciliation activities across our sector and the Adelaide BioMed City precinct.

SAHMRI's Chair, the Hon. Hieu Van Le AC, is SAHMRI's designated RAP Champion.

A RAP Champion is someone who lives the values, and demonstrates the behaviours, that are detailed within our Reconciliation Action Plan; someone whose example can accelerate the bringing together of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians so we can all enjoy the benefits of being a truly unified nation.

Anyone can be RAP Champion - Chances are, you’re already acting like one.

The actions of a RAP Champion can be as simple as acknowledging country before a meeting or as overt as calling out racist behaviour. Reconciliation Australia has compiled these 20 Actions for Reconciliation that a RAP Champion might demonstrate.

Many of us are living as RAP Champions already through the work we do at SAHMRI. When your research addresses the gap in health outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, you are embodying what the Reconciliation process aims to achieve.

If you would like to know more about how you can actively contribute to Reconciliation, please contact reconciliation@sahmri.com.