The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) is celebrating NAIDOC Week with the launch of a position statement on the Uluru Statement from the Heart reiterating the College's support for the three pillars of voice, treaty and truth.
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright welcomed NAIDOC Week and the launch of the position statement.
"NAIDOC Week is a time for us to reflect on and acknowledge the histories, cultures and leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their vision for the future, including self-determination and honouring the strengths of communities. Our position statement backs this vision," he said.
"The RACGP has supported the Uluru Statement from the Heart since 2018, we believe that self-determination and truth-telling are vital to achieving health equity, and health outcomes are stronger when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples take control over their communities' health and wellbeing. This is demonstrated through Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, which provide high-quality clinical and culturally safe healthcare designed by the community, for the community.
"Advancing the Uluru Statement from the Heart will increase real opportunities for the Government to support self-determination, implement priority reform areas and achieve targets under the National Closing the Gap agreement.
"Celebrating NAIDOC week is very important to the RACGP, including recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander GPs and restating our commitment to a culturally safe and reflective GP workforce more broadly, through implementing our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural and Health Training Framework and our commitments to a healthcare system free from racism."
RACGP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Faculty Chair Dr Karen Nicholls backed the President's comments.
"Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander GPs are such an important part of our health workforce and continuing to support and grow this workforce is a priority," she said.
"The RACGP runs a Yagila Wadamba program to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander GPs in training and our partnerships with organisations such as the Indigenous General Practice Trainee Network and the Australian Indigenous Doctors' Association are crucial to growing our GPs.
"The RACGP currently has over 160 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander GP fellows who are excelling in a wide range of healthcare settings and locations. There is strong evidence that an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healthcare workforce delivers better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and we look forward to the day when we can celebrate our 200th GP fellow.
"Thinking on the NAIDOC theme of 'The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy' we can celebrate the fact that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are represented across the whole spectrum of general practice. We have incredible GP leaders who have been GPs for decades and broke through barriers and paved the way, providing that legacy of strength and demonstrating what is possible for community. And we have incredible upcoming future GPs, those who are trainees, medical students or even high school students thinking about general practice. They represent the bright future ahead and are strong leaders who are backed by the vision of communities and the legacy of their ancestors.
~
