International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples

AMA President, Dr Michael Gannon, said today that we need genuine collaborative action to improve health and education outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

“There are clear links between education and health,” Dr Gannon said.

“We know closing the gap and improving the health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people also means closing the gap in education and literacy.

“Now is the time to develop a whole-of-Government approach to improve access to education and provide health services in culturally appropriate ways to improve the physical and mental wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

“All current and future policies addressing education, employment, poverty, housing, taxation, transport, the environment, and social security should be assessed according to their impact on health and equity.

“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will not achieve equal health outcomes until their educational, economic, and social disadvantages have been eliminated.

“We still have much work to do as a nation to close the gap in life expectancy and the overall health of Indigenous Australians compared with the rest of the community.

“The AMA remains committed to improving the health outcomes for Indigenous people by working in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups to advocate for greater Government investment and cohesive coordinated strategies.”

The AMA strongly endorses the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People and the goal of equal access to all education and training for Indigenous peoples.

9 August 2016

CONTACT:        Kirsty Waterford                02 6270 5464 / 0427 209 753

Follow the AMA Media on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ama_media
Follow the AMA President on Twitter: http://twitter.com/amapresident
Follow Australian Medicine on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/amaausmed
Like the AMA on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AustralianMedicalAssociation