“The Australian Government’s Implementation Plan for the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2013-2023 looks to the people who have runs on the board, those in the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health sector, to play a key role, and offers further opportunities for our Services to grow and deliver more primary health care to more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We congratulate Minister Fiona Nash on seeing this through – a process started by the former government but broadly informed by the Aboriginal health sector”

Matthew Cooke, Chair of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) 

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan (2013-2023)

The health of Aboriginal people will be boosted by the release of the implementation phase of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan today.

Matthew Cooke, Chair of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) said the goals of the implementation plan aligned with the close the gap targets to see equality in health outcomes within a generation.

“This is a critical piece of the puzzle to improve the health outcomes for Aboriginal people – a long term, whole of government health implementation plan, from cradle to grave, that recognises the impacts of racism and discrimination inherent in the mainstream health system.

“It looks to the people who have runs on the board, those in the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health sector, to play a key role, and offers further opportunities for our Services to grow and deliver more primary health care to more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

“We congratulate Minister Fiona Nash on seeing this through – a process started by the former government but broadly informed by the Aboriginal health sector.

“Sick kids can’t get to school; adults that suffer poor health find it difficult to sustain jobs. That’s why getting this right is so important.”

Mr Cooke said the next steps had to be complementary commitment to long-term funding against the implementation plan, outside election cycles, as part of the bi-partisan approach to close the gap.

Mr Cooke said NACCHO was looking forward to working with government to implement the plan and continuing to improve the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal people.