Yes to a Voice to Parliament

healthAbility proudly supports the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia in the Constitution through The Voice to Parliament.  The Organisation is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion for all.  This includes the commitment to help Close the Gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.  healthAbility believes a Voice to Parliament will improve the health, social and economic outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and benefit Australia as a whole. 

healthAbility encourages everyone to seek the information they need to form their own views on the referendum.

Supporting information

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples face significant health, social and economic inequities. The burden of disease for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is 2.3 times that of non-Indigenous Australians, with a life expectancy approximately eight years less than non-Indigenous Australians.  More information can be found here and here and the national commitment to Closing the Gap can be found here.

The Voice to Parliament recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia in the Constitution.  The Voice would be an independent and permanent advisory body that would give advice to the Australian Parliament and Government on matters that affect the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. healthAbility believes this will help improve health, social and economic outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. To read more about the referendum and what it means please read here and to read the Uluru Statement from the Heart see here.

The Uluru Statement artwork (pictured above) was led by senior Maruku artist and Uluru traditional owner Rene Kulitja, and painted by Mutitjulu artists Christine Brumby, Charmaine Kulitja and Happy Reid.