Reconciliation is about building better relationships between the wider Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for the benefit of all Australians.

ACHA acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Lands upon which we operate across Australia.

As the continuing custodians of Country, we recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and community and pay our respects to Australia's First Peoples and their Elders, past, present and future.

Our Acknowledgement of Country Launch

At the entrances of our hospitals our patients, staff and other visitors will see plaques which acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Lands upon which we operate, an important recognition of the continuing connection to land, waters and community of Australia's First Peoples.

Our artwork

Our Acknowledgement of Country artwork titled 'Coming Together' was developed by Stan Yarramunua, a Wathaurong man from Geelong and Bacchus Marsh.

The artwork is Stan's response to hearing about our purpose 'To work together for better care' and the breadth, scale and diversity of our organisation which we are seeking to leverage as we continue our reconciliation journey.

The inner circle represents people coming together, a fundamental platform of reconciliation journey, and important to facilitate the sharing of knowledge.

The goanna represents our reconciliation journey. The platypus represents the wisdom we gain from working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders, community members, organisations and businesses, as well as our community partners. And the turtle represents love and caring.

The dotted white arcs in the middle of the painting represent water. The painting depicts a coming together to protect the water, because without water we are nothing.