The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) has congratulated the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria and the Victorian Government on the introduction of legislation to enshrine Australia's first Treaty, a major Reconciliation milestone for the state.
This is Australia's first state Treaty agreement, with the Victorian Government introducing a Statewide Treaty Bill into Parliament this week. If passed, the negotiated Treaty Agreement will be signed by the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria and the Victorian Government.
RACGP Victoria Chair Dr Anita Muñoz welcomed the legislation as work towards the treaty pillar of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, which the RACGP reaffirmed in 2025.
"This is a pivotal moment for self-determination, for continued truth-telling and for improving the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal Victorians," Dr Muñoz said.
"Treaty and truth-telling are crucial to overcoming Australia's health inequalities. Treaty also recognises that Aboriginal people in Victoria are the experts in what support their health and wellbeing. This Treaty and legislation means they will have the mechanism to guide policy and to voice their solutions, needs, hopes, and aspirations as well as hold the Government to account for their commitments.
"Health policies only truly serve people when the people affected by them have a say in their delivery. That has not been the case in Victoria's past, but it can and should be our future.
"A Treaty will help remedy that historic wrong. Congratulations to the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria, the Victorian Government, and to generations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who advocated for and contributed to this milestone. We look forward to continuing to listen to and learn from ongoing truth-telling and to work to build a health system that is free from racism and truly serves everyone."
RACGP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Faculty Chair Dr Karen Nicholls said addressing cultural and social determinants of health is a key part of creating a stronger primary health system for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients.
"Health outcomes are inextricable from their social and cultural context," Dr Nicholls said.
"We can't ignore the crucial role of Yoorrook Justice Commission in demonstrating why health disparities exist in Victoria, that racism is prevalent in the health system. Truth-telling about patients lived experience of racism in healthcare can be uncomfortable, but it's not about blame – it's looking back so you can move forward.
"Patients need a healthcare system that's structured to be culturally safe and staffed by well-trained health professionals who are able to respond to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Continued truth-telling and the work under the Treaty will help Victoria to achieve this.
"Another part of addressing inequities is continuing to grow Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander general practice workforce. That's also a priority for the RACGP. There's strong evidence that an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healthcare workforce delivers better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and the same is true of culturally safe healthcare.
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright echoed Dr Nicholls and called on other jurisdictions to view Treaty-making and truth-telling as part of their commitments to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.
"Self-determination, along with truth-telling, is vital to achieving health equity," he said.
"We're committed to ensuring Australia's GPs and general practices can provide a culturally safe healthcare environment and we'll continue to join our partners in advocating for the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
"This is Australia's first Treaty, but it won't be the last. I encourage our colleagues across the health system and Federal and state governments to work towards treaties that support self-determination in line with their own commitments and to the Uluru Statement from the Heart."
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