The Foundation, including our directors, management, staff, families and partners, acknowledges that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are the first peoples of Australia. They have the longest continuous living culture in the world. We recognise and are sorry for the historic and current injustices perpetrated against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We know from our experience that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people do not enjoy the same rights and life expectancy as the majority of the Australian population. Despite this, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have shown enormous courage and resilience in the face of this adversity.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience significantly worse health outcomes compared to the majority of Australians. These health disparities are linked to a range of factors, including social determinants of health, discrimination, and inadequate access to healthcare services. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are often excluded from policy decisions that affect their health, resulting in inadequate healthcare services and poor health outcomes.
The Foundation Board, management, staff and families believe that the Indigenous Voice to Parliament is essential for improving the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia. As a representative body, it would provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with a direct say in the policies that affect their health, enabling the development of culturally appropriate and responsive healthcare services. By addressing the social determinants of health and improving access to healthcare services, we believe that the Indigenous Voice to Parliament will significantly reduce the health disparities experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia. That is why we the Board, management and staff of the Foundation say ‘Yes’ to the Indigenous Voice to Parliament.
The Indigenous Voice to Parliament will give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people a direct say in the policy decisions that affect their lives. The Voice will be enshrined in the Constitution, ensuring that Aboriginal people have a permanent voice in Australia's political system. The proposed representative body would provide a platform for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to identify and prioritize health issues affecting their communities. It will enable the development of policies that are culturally appropriate and responsive to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The body will advise the Australian Parliament on strategies to address the social determinants of health, such as improving education and employment opportunities, addressing housing insecurity, and reducing discrimination. The Indigenous Voice to Parliament will also provide an opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to participate in decision-making processes related to the design and delivery of healthcare services. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have unique cultural and historical experiences that influence their health beliefs, practices, and expectations. The Indigenous Voice to Parliament would enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to provide input on the development of healthcare services that are responsive to their cultural needs and preferences.
