Indigenous Voice ‘vital’ to improve health outcomes for First Nations people: Luke Burchill on ABC NewsRadio
The establishment of an Indigenous Voice to Parliament is a priority for the new federal government.
Constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the establishment of a Voice to Parliament would ensure that First Nations people can be active leaders in framing the policies and projects that impact their everyday lives. Through addressing these needs and priorities identified by those who know them best, local community-led solutions can work to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health outcomes. This would be a starting point to correcting historical inequities of care.
Stroke disproportionately affects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with a stroke incidence rate 2-3 fold that of non-Indigenous Australians. Those under 55 have a rate 6-9 fold.
The Australian Stroke Alliance’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Council is taking a lead to transform stroke care and outcomes. And, through the establishment of Darak, we have created a shared resource designed to centre Indigenous leadership, support cultural awareness, and strengthen community engagement in health research. We are going beyond the medicine and technology, and are listening and learning from partnerships with those affected by stroke, to prevent stroke.
Co-chair of this council, Associate Professor Luke Burchill, recently joined Mandy Presland on ABC NewsRadio to discuss why a voice for First Nations people is crucial in creating long-lasting, sustainable change.
In very simple terms, we need to be seen, we need to be heard and, when it comes to the framing of data about us, we would come back to the thing that we have been saying for decades - Nothing about us, without us.
You can listen to their discussion by clicking here.