The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) congratulates the Honourable Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the Coalition on the federal election win.
"NACCHO welcomes the opportunity to work with Prime Minister Morrison and his Government to reduce the burden of disease for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples," NACCHO Acting Chair, Ms Donnella Mills said.
"We are calling on Prime Minister Morrison to take a holistic approach to Indigenous health. Closing the gap in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health requires a range of measures including increased funding for comprehensive primary health care, housing and infrastructure," Ms Mills said.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are disproportionately affected by many chronic diseases. Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is rare in the wider Australian community but remains substantially high in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
To this end, NACCHO is calling on Prime Minister Morrison and his government to support the following 10 policy proposals:
- Increase base funding of Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs)
- Increase the baseline funding for ACCHOs to support the sustainable delivery of high quality, comprehensive primary health care services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities.
- Work together with NACCHO and its State Affiliates to agree to a new formula for the distribution of comprehensive primary health care funding that is relative to need.
- Increase funding for capital works and infrastructure upgrades
- Increase funding allocated through the Indigenous Australians' Health Programme for:
- capital works and infrastructure upgrades, and
- Telehealth services.
- Around $500 million is likely to be needed to address unmet needs.
- Increase funding allocated through the Indigenous Australians' Health Programme for:
