Media release

Long-term commitment needed to close the gap

AMA President, Dr Andrew Pesce, today agreed with the Government that a long-term commitment is needed to eliminate the health and mortality gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

Dr Pesce said that the AMA also agreed with the Prime Minister that achieving improvements in the lives of Indigenous Australians is not just the responsibility of governments.

“Indigenous people also have a responsibility to achieve progress through hard work and taking personal responsibility for their health and wellbeing,” Dr Pesce said.

“They know what community needs are and what is likely to work, and why.

“When communities develop and apply their own solutions, this can lead to positive, meaningful and sustained change.

“But this can only happen effectively when Indigenous people and communities have the right capacity to do it for themselves.

“The AMA believes that the Government must invest in building the capacity of Indigenous communities to recognise problems, develop solutions, and have the resources and community relationships necessary to move from dependence to self-reliance.

"Governments and bureaucracies are not necessarily the best agents to do this. The AMA believes that non-government organisations (NGOs) that are already active at the local level in Indigenous communities daily are a better investment.

“The AMA would like to see the Government provide new funding of $100 million over 10 years in grants to community groups or NGOs for health-related capacity building in Indigenous communities,” Dr Pesce said.


9 February 2011

CONTACT: Geraldine Kurukchi 02 6270 5467 / 0427 209 753

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