Ambulance Victoria has a special place in our society as first responders to emergencies. The organisation is responsible for our wellbeing and safety and provides lifesaving interventions and medical care.
Throughout our lifetime we most likely have or know someone who has needed their services and could attribute their assistance in helping nurture emergency situations. This forms the start of a healing journey for those that have needed their aid.
Historically, there has been friction and contention between First Nations people and systemic institutions due to lack of cultural understanding, racism and thus mistrust in healthcare.
The commitment of AV in the reconciliation space is to ensure they are exercising cultural safety and understanding the barriers, challenges and building cultural capacity within their business.
The central motif represents our community and sitting in a yarning circle and engaging in two-way deep listening to gain understanding and to build trust. The extension of this turns into a ripple effect, highlighting the importance of how working together positively influences our environments and society.
The healing stones and gum leaves represent our individual and collective healing journeys.
The ants are symbolic of patience, teamwork, cooperation, and communal strength.
The outer circles depict our diverse communities and their diverse needs; and the pathways represent our connection to each one another. Despite our race, gender, sexual orientation and religion; our needs as people are more common than our differences.
The black and white feet and hands represent First Nations and the broader community working together to ensure cultural understanding, safety and ensuring capacity building is at the forefront of interactions to help heal, build equity and unite our community.
Access to spiritual, emotional and physical wellbeing should be a universal right and our country and community have worked together to ensure there is accessibility to these rights. The reconciliation commitment is another right step in this direction.
The ‘U’ shape symbols honour the selfless devotion, commitment and generosity of everyone at Ambulance Victoria; from the paramedics, call-takers and operational staff.
Bitja (Dixon Patten)
Yorta Yorta, Gunnai, Gunditjmara, Djab Wurrung, Wemba Wemba, Dhudhuroa, Monero, Waywurru, Wadi Wadi, Monero/Ngarigu
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