To coincide with National Reconciliation Week, CALHN has released a new style of ‘hello my name is’ badge as an option for staff who identify as being Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
The ‘hello my name is’ badge has been worn by many staff across the network since 2018, but the new badges feature CALHN’s reconciliation artwork by artist Allan Sumner, a descendant of the Ngarrindjeri, Kaurna and Yankunytjatjara people.
These new badges offer an opportunity for staff who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander to wear their cultural identity with pride.
The idea to feature CALHN’s reconciliation artwork on the badge grew from my passion for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to be seen as leaders and our traditional knowledge to be recognised as health expertise within the health system,” says Dr Brenton Earl, who is a Palawa man, descendent of the Plangermaireener Nation of Lutruwita (Tasmania) and emergency medicine trainee.
By introducing a new style of badge for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, CALHN is making a small step in acknowledging that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff are here working, for our community, in a variety of roles across the network.
Though, a badge means more than simply displaying a name and job description. They act as insignia to ignite conversation, interaction and allow patients, consumers, staff, carers and colleagues to communicate and share information in a supportive culture and environment.
Read more about CALHN’s Reconciliation Action Plan and other related initiatives here.
