National forum to address Indigenous health

Friday, 11 August 2017

A National Partnership Forum on Indigenous Health, bringing together Australia’s leading health organisations at the University of Newcastle today (August 11), will kickstart a national process to help close the current gap in Indigenous health.

Nick Talley

Led by the Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges (CPMC), the forum isthe first major initiative to follow the signing in May of a collaborative agreement between the Australian Government and three key national health organisations:

  • the Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges (CPMC),
  • the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association (AIDA) and,
  • the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (NACCHO).

The agreement commits the Australian Government and the three influential health organisations to collaborate on the journey towards closing the gap in Indigenous health.

CPMC Chair and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Global Research) at the University of Newcastle, Laureate Professor Nick Talley said the forum’s aim was to develop the partnership.

“This is the first time such a forum has been convened and we are all committed to working together to address the health issues for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.”

With a focus on the 2017 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework report, the forum will work to develop a set of measurable outcomes for each of the tiers.

  • The forum will discuss:
  • Developing Indigenous strategic framework planning
  • Embedding cultural safety principles into the planning
  • Addressing key health conditions
  • Growing the Indigenous medical workforce and
  • health inequity

The CPMC Forum will bring together 22 Presidents of the Medical Colleges to discuss Indigenous health.

“I expect there will be projects recommended which will enable collaboration between doctors, and service providers and I look forward to presenting these ideas to the Minister for Indigenous Health,” Professor Talley said.

The forum will be staged at the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI).  A smoking ceremony will mark the opening of the forum.

HMRI is a partnership between the University of Newcastle, Hunter New England Health and the community.


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