Michelle Smith Health Diversity and Inclusion Statement

Michelle Smith Health (MSH) believes a diverse, inclusive and equitable organisation is one where all employees, clients and stakeholders, whatever their gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation or identity, education or disability, feels valued and respected. MSH is committed to providing equal opportunity and accessibility to healthcare that is non-discriminatory and respects and values the diverse life experiences of all people. MSH is committed to hearing, seeing and supporting all people in their health, so that all voices are valued and heard. 

MSH is committed to supporting the trans and gender diverse community that is oftentimes overlooked in healthcare, particularly in regards to female reproductive and menstrual health. Our intention is to support all people assigned female at birth, regardless of their gender or sexual orientation, to feel empowered in their bodies. We view sex and gender with distinction, and understand gender to be non-binary. 

We also stand in solidarity to First Nations people and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded. MSH acknowledges the social and cultural determinants of health that effect First Nations peoples life expectancy and overall health. We acknowledge the impact racism and discrimination have on a persons health and are committed to not only stand in solidarity with First Nations people and advocate on a local, state and national government level for systemic change, but also work with community organisations on a grassroots level. 

To provide informed, authentic healthcare for cultural and gender equity, MSH strives to:

• See diversity, inclusion, and equity as connected to our mission and critical to ensure the well-being of our staff and the communities we serve.
• Advocate that individual people are the primary decision-makers in their own medical pathways and are empowered by informed consent, self-determination and autonomy. 
• Acknowledge and dismantle any inequities within our policies, systems, and services.
• Explore potential underlying, unquestioned assumptions that interfere with inclusiveness, with specificity to healthcare.
• Advocate for and support thinking about how systemic inequities impact accessibility to healthcare, and how best to address that in a way that is consistent with our mission.
• Practice and encourage transparent communication in all interactions.
• Commit time and resources to expand our understanding of healthcare inequity effecting the communities we serve, including but not limited to, trans and gender diverse people and  First Nations people,  and how to best support these communities.