Page 597 - Week 02 - Thursday, 23 March 2023
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The minister also noted that the ACT public service survey is open, noted we are in the 30 per cent area for completion and encouraged the directorate to fill out the survey. I would like to ask frontline health workers, if they have the time, to also fill out this survey. I think it is equally important to get a good, broad response.
The minister’s self-congratulatory, pat on the back statements are damaging for the culture of CHS. All they do is build a divide between frontline health workers and executives. The minister talked about how negative statements make it more difficult to recruit, but unfortunately the damage is done. Cardiologists are rescinding their offers for jobs. The minister has not been able to fill positions in the fetal maternal medicine unit since June. We have not heard any update on whether CHS has finally hired enough nurses to meet ratios or has enough staff to staff the hospital.
The government needs to stop the spin on culture and wellbeing projects that have been heavily criticised by stakeholders. Do not be fooled by optimistic statements. There are many areas of culture that are neglected and below where they need to be.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders—Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Agreement 2019-2028
Ministerial statement
MS STEPHEN-SMITH (Kurrajong—Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, Minister for Families and Community Services and Minister for Health) (10.32): I rise today to table the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Agreement 2019-2028 phase 2 focus area action plans.
I am pleased to present all 10 focus area action plans, which provide clear visibility of the actions to be progressed by the ACT government during the phase 2 implementation of the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Agreement. The action plans support our efforts to strengthen the alignment between the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and the ACT agreement. They are targeted and achievable—providing a strong foundation for collaboration across ACT government directorates, and with the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and stakeholders, to deliver outcomes in each focus area.
Key updates include updated national targets and indicators, and alignment of the ACT focus areas with the four national priority reform areas; introduction of phase-based qualitative statements to reflect what has happened in the previous phase and what the community can expect in the coming phase; and community priorities identified by the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body.
While we are enthusiastic and committed to the delivery of these new actions for phase 2, there will be continuing work on the remaining elements of the priority actions from phase 1. These actions will continue to be implemented throughout the life of the ACT agreement and are reflected in the refreshed phase 2 focus area action plans. The completed priority actions, and those still in progress from phase 1, will be published separately on the Community Services Directorate website.
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