The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) marks NAIDOC week 2019 with a call for voice, treaty and truth.

NACCHO is proud to celebrate
the rich history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people and supports the further development of the First Nations Voice to
Parliament as proposed in the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

NACCHO Acting Chair,
Donnella Mills said, “The NAIDOC theme speaks to NACCHO’s priorities. Having an
Indigenous voice to Parliament is an important step in protecting and ensuring
the interests of Indigenous communities are represented at the highest levels
of government.

“NACCHO encourages the
government to accelerate the call for a Voice to Parliament and supports a Makarrata
Commission to supervise the treaty process as necessary steps towards true
reconciliation. The voice will respond to both Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander people’s exclusion from the constitution and will help include our say
in the development of significant laws and policies that affect our lives.

“We work with Aboriginal
Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs) across the nation for the
sustainable delivery of comprehensive primary healthcare services to Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander people and communities.  Over the years, we have seen the increased
accessibility and quality of services and medicines across states and
territories.

“It is our collective
challenge along with our Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services sector
to make a real difference in Closing the Gap. As we celebrate NAIDOC week, let’s
continue our national conversations around voice and treaty grounded in
truth-telling. Speaking truth to our country’s past will lay a strong
foundation for a brighter, stronger and more equitable future for all.”

NACCHO is the national peak body representing 145 Aboriginal Community
Controlled Health Organisations across the country on Aboriginal health and
wellbeing issues. NACCHO represents over 6,000 ACCHO staff – of which 3,500 are
Indigenous – and is the largest employer of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people in Australia.

Many
NACCHO members have almost 50 years of experience in the delivery of
comprehensive primary health care. Services are delivered through fixed,
outreach and mobile clinics operating in urban, rural and remote settings
across Australia.

For media enquiries or for interviews contact Kari Browne on kari@fiftyacres.com or +61 455 415 552