AMA welcomes new NACCHO Chairperson
AMA President, Dr Kerryn Phelps, today welcomed the appointment of Ms Pat Anderson as the new Chairperson of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) and Mr Henry Councillor as Deputy Chair.
Ms Anderson replaces the highly respected Puggy Hunter who died in September.
Dr Phelps said NACCHO needs strong leadership to continue its tradition of advocacy on behalf of Aboriginal community controlled health services and Ms Anderson is the right person to fill that role.
"The principle of community control is critical to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in improving the health of their communities," Dr Phelps said.
"A strong NACCHO is essential if the health status of Aboriginal communities - the worst of any group in Australia - is to be improved.
"It is a national disgrace that many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders continue to be denied the most basic health, environmental and sanitation services that other Australians take for granted.
"The AMA will work closely with Pat Anderson and NACCHO to right this wrong," Dr Phelps said.
Dr Phelps said the AMA has been calling on the Government to increase funding for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health by at least $245 million a year, as recommended by Professor John Deeble in a report commissioned by the AMA.
"The priority is for funding to be directed to primary health care services with a significant increase to community controlled health services," Dr Phelps said.
"It is essential that Australia makes the same progress in this area as countries such as Canada, the United States and New Zealand.
"This is an issue of social justice that should be a priority for all political parties," Dr Phelps said.
CONTACT: John Flannery (02) 6270 5477 / (0419) 494 761
Sarah Crichton (02) 6270 5472 / (0419) 440 076