The Consumers Health Forum welcomes the new National Agreement on Closing the Gap, a significant step forward that has been determined by and for Australia's First Nations Peoples.
"It differs from the previous agreement because it was developed in close consultation and negotiation with the Coalition of Peaks and agreed to by them," the CEO of the Consumers Health Forum, Leanne Wells, said.
"In contrast to the indifferent Closing the Gap health outcomes over more than a decade, we believe that giving people more say over the design and delivery of health and other services is much more likely to yield the results that people seek and need.
"As the document itself states, 'This Agreement also stems from the belief that when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a genuine say in the design and delivery of services that affect them, better life outcomes are achieved. It recognises that structural change in the way Governments work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is needed to close the gap."
"As CHF has often urged in health care, shared decision making is the key - on design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programs to improve life outcomes.
"We hope that this will generate real will in Australia for implementation of a voice for Aboriginal people through Uluru Statement of the Heart.
"The four key outcomes identified are the game changers - a more whole of life, whole of community approach:
- Shared decision-making and partnerships
- Building the community-controlled sector with sustained capacity-building and investment to deliver Closing the Gap services and programs across the board
- The transformation of Government organisations
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership in the sharing and use of data
