Reconciliation Week: Significant strides made in the South West but ‘long way to go’ still

A Noongar woman with more than 25 years experience in the First Nations health sector says there’s still “a long way to go” in the South West on the path towards reconciliation, despite significant improvements over the years.

Auntie Elsie Penny, OAM, has worked at the South West Aboriginal Medical Service since 1997, and is the cultural practice lead at Kwaba Bidi.

In 2021, Ms Penny was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for her commitment to Indigenous health.

Despite the strides made in recent years, this Reconciliation Week Ms Penny said there was more to be done.

“We are getting there, we’ve still got a long way to go,” she said.

“On a personal level, having worked in Aboriginal health for over 30 years in Bunbury, I can see there’s been some good achievements.

“The opening of the South West Aboriginal Medical Service and other Aboriginal-controlled organisations which are doing their part towards reconciliation and closing the gap by delivering services that are important for our people and making a difference.”

Ms Penny said there were more Indigenous Australians working at SWAMS than ever before, making up roughly 50 per cent of their staff.

However, she said there was ultimately a “funding issue” for Aboriginal health services not receiving equivalent levels of support as mainstream providers.

She also said connections with hospitals should be strengthened to ensure clients “aren’t falling through the cracks”, while also improving youth mental health services and early intervention and healing programs.

National Reconciliation Week — from May 27 to June 3 — is an important time for Australians to learn about First Nations’ history, culture and achievements,” Ms Penny said.

“It’s about acknowledging the past and walking together in the future,” she said.

The theme of this year’s event is Bridging Now to Next.

“It’s a call to all Australians to reflect, listen and act, so that we can build a future based on respect, truth telling and genuine connection between First Nations and non-Indigenous people,” Ms Penny said.

“(It’s about) recognising the truths of our past and being honest about where we are now, and committing to where we want to be as a nation.”

Earlier in the week, the State Government announced survivors of the Stolen Generations in WA would be compensated through a redress scheme which offered payments of up to $85,000 each.

Ms Penny said it was “something”, but would never make up for “the hurt and loss” endured by affected families which “can never be undone”.

“It’ll never make up for all the loss they’ve had — the families, the kinship connections, their culture, their country. They can never, ever go back to that.”

The City of Bunbury announced on Tuesday the annual Bunbury Walk for Reconciliation had been postponed until October or November due to poor weather forecasts.