The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) marks NAIDOC week 2019 with a call for voice, treaty and truth.
NACCHO is proud to celebratethe rich history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanderpeople and supports the further development of the First Nations Voice toParliament as proposed in the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
NACCHO Acting Chair,Donnella Mills said, “The NAIDOC theme speaks to NACCHO’s priorities. Having anIndigenous voice to Parliament is an important step in protecting and ensuringthe interests of Indigenous communities are represented at the highest levelsof government.
“NACCHO encourages thegovernment to accelerate the call for a Voice to Parliament and supports a MakarrataCommission to supervise the treaty process as necessary steps towards truereconciliation. The voice will respond to both Aboriginal and Torres StraitIslander people’s exclusion from the constitution and will help include our sayin the development of significant laws and policies that affect our lives.
“We work with AboriginalCommunity Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs) across the nation for thesustainable delivery of comprehensive primary healthcare services to Aboriginaland Torres Strait Islander people and communities. Over the years, we have seen the increasedaccessibility and quality of services and medicines across states andterritories.
“It is our collectivechallenge along with our Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services sectorto make a real difference in Closing the Gap. As we celebrate NAIDOC week, let’scontinue our national conversations around voice and treaty grounded intruth-telling. Speaking truth to our country’s past will lay a strongfoundation for a brighter, stronger and more equitable future for all.”
NACCHO is the national peak body representing 145 Aboriginal CommunityControlled Health Organisations across the country on Aboriginal health andwellbeing issues. NACCHO represents over 6,000 ACCHO staff – of which 3,500 areIndigenous – and is the largest employer of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanderpeople in Australia.
ManyNACCHO members have almost 50 years of experience in the delivery ofcomprehensive primary health care. Services are delivered through fixed,outreach and mobile clinics operating in urban, rural and remote settingsacross Australia.
