Indigenous health

RACS recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the land owners of Australia and Māori as tangata whenua (people of the land) of Aotearoa New Zealand (AoNZ). RACS is committed to Indigenous health and places emphasis on the most appropriate and effective ways to achieve the vision of health equity, as well as increasing Indigenous representation in surgery and creating a surgical environment that is culturally safe and more relatable to Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islanders and Māori.

  • Motifs

    RACS Indigenous health position

    RACS has committed to prioritising Indigenous Health, building workforce and increasing services to better meet the health needs of Māori, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people. Focus is also on collaborating effectively with our partners and supporting the communities we serve. RACS Indigenous Health Position Statement outlines RACS ongoing obligations under The Treaty of Waitangi (in Aotearoa New Zealand), The Close the Gap Statement of Intent (in Australia) and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP).

    RACS Indigenous health position
  • Indigenous scholarships

    Indigenous scholarships

    RACS Indigenous Scholarship Program aims to support those medical graduates and current trainees of the RACS who identify as Aboriginal, Torres Strait islander or Māori, on their chosen career path to becoming a Surgeon.

    Scholarships and Awards
  • maori health

    Māori health

    Māori as tangata whenua (people of the land) of New Zealand have unique rights under Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Te Tiriti o Waitangi provides a foundation for policy development in Aotearoa New Zealand and means Māori values, traditions and practices are protected.

    Māori health
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people are the traditional landowners of Australia and have occupied Australia for thousands of years. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people have unique rights under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP) adopted by the Australian Government in 2009 and The Close the Gap Statement of Intent. RACS is committed to health equity and increasing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island surgical workforce.

    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
  • Indigenous Hui 2023

    Indigenous Hui - 29-30 July 2023

    Up to 50 surgeons and surgical Trainees of Māori, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island descent will converge on Auckland on 29-30 July to build ties and create a community for Indigenous surgeons.

    Indigenous Hui 2023

  • RACS statement on the Voice to Parliament

    Indigenous Australians have been calling for a voice in decision-making processes that affect them for more than a century.
    RACS has made a commitment to improving Indigenous health outcomes in Australia and the Voice will provide an avenue to ensure that Indigenous Australians have a genuine voice in the decisions that affect their communities.

    RACS statement on the Voice to Parliament