The Women in Intensive care medicine network support the Uluru Statement
of the Heart and the formation of the Voice.
The ability of communities to access and benefit equitably from healthcare is
inextricably linked to autonomy, dignity, and sovereignty, rights that have long
been denied to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Indigenous
people in Australia suffer from multiple domains of inequity in healthcare and
disparity of outcomes.
WIN is committed to improving the healthcare and wellbeing of First Nations
peoples across Australia and New Zealand. We therefore support the Uluru
Statement of the Heart and the formation of the Voice.
As a healthcare community, we understand that health and welfare encompass
many domains, not just the cure of disease. And that to address the current
inequities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, we need to
address the many social determinants of health. We also believe that
Indigenous Australians should be the key stakeholders and decision makers
surrounding decisions made that impact healthcare and wellbeing, including
policy decisions made on a national level.
The Voice would be a key first step in addressing a long history of oppression
and inequality by providing an avenue for First Nations communities to be
consulted directly regarding issues such as healthcare, jobs, housing, and
education. This is the principle of self-determination.
Please listen to Megan Davis as she explains the Uluru Statement of the heart.
Megan, as the co-author of the Uluru Statement of the heart recognises the
voice as this first step. The Uluru statement of the heart is the generous
invitation from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to the rest of
Australia to walk together and achieve a better Australia. More resources on
the Voice can be found on the WIN website.
Dr. Sandra Lussier, on behalf of the WIN committee.
Resources: