Members of peak body for public health, the Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA), have voted almost unanimously to create an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice to help guide its work.
After two years of hard work and consultation, the proposal known as the First Nations Collective Co-Design Project was passed at the association's annual general meeting on Dharawal Country / Wollongong on 16 September. Formalising the work of the Collective required a change to the association's constitution, and a vote from its members.
The Co-Design Project team was led by the immediate past PHAA Vice President (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Dr Alana Gall a proud Truwulway woman from north-east Coast Lutruwita / Tasmania. It included Elders, and a Co-Design Strategy Group comprising early and mid-career Aboriginal researchers and practitioners in public health. Other members were First Nations mentees, and senior officials from the PHAA Governance structure including its president.
"A huge amount of work by myself and nine other Indigenous people – all volunteers – went into the two-year project to co-design the Indigenous governance model for the PHAA Collective," Dr Gall, who is based at Southern Cross University, said.
"To see it accepted by most of the PHAA membership gives me hope post the failed Voice referendum, and makes all the hard work worth it."
The next step of the Collective project will be determined by the Collective members, and facilitated by the incoming PHAA Vice President (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander), Associate Professor and proud Yorta Yorta woman, Summer May Finlay.
"It's an honour to be leading the implementation of the First Nations Collective which will act as a First Nations Public Health Voice," Associate Prof Finlay, who is based at the University of Wollongong, said.
"The process will, much like the initial stages, will be co-designed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander PHAA members, and key leaders.
"We hope that the development of the Collective will demonstrate the value of a First Nations Voice and encourages other organisations to follow the PHAA's lead."
The association remains steadfast in its support of the Uluru Statement from the Heart movement, which was supported by more than 6 million people, and movement's goals of a Makarratta, Treaty.
"The country may have chosen in late 2023 to not accept the invitation to create a voice to parliament, but the PHAA has chosen to proceed with an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice to its operations," PHAA President, Prof Caroline Miller, said.
"We are grateful to the Collective team to their many years of deliberations, and look forward to incorporating it into our organisation, and being guided by its vital work."
