Discussion Paper for the Development of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan
Why do we need a new Health Plan?
Up to National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan
It has been nearly a decade since the National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health was released. Considering the Strategic Framework expires in 2013, it is timely to revisit the principles of the Strategic Framework and the issues and concerns of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people about their health. It is also an opportunity to reflect on current effort and the available evidence base for future health planning.
Since the Strategic Framework was written, there have been important changes in Australian society, including a growth in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population of around 100,000 people. There has been an increased focus and commitment by governments to support improvement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ health and wellbeing. Significant events since the release of the Strategic Framework include the following:
- National Apology to Australia’s Indigenous peoples;
- COAG’s Closing the Gap commitments;
- significantly increased investment in the Northern Territory, most recently through the Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory package;
- creation of the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples, the national representative body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;
- the signing of the Statement of Intent, which has been led by the Close the Gap Steering Committee;
- formally endorsing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in conjunction with the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; and
- the ongoing process to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Australian Constitution.
The National Mental Health Reform was announced by the Australian Government as part of its 2011-12 Budget. These reforms will focus on extensive engagement with experts, service providers and, most importantly, with consumers and their carers. This reform lays down the foundations for a new systematic approach to support people with mental illness. The reform particularly focusses on those most vulnerable in our community, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with mental illness. Coupled with a longer term roadmap, there will be investments over five years to build a better mental health system. The longer-term roadmap will signpost a vision for the system, ground Australian Government’s investments in the advice of experts and stakeholders – those who know what works best – and commit the Government to ongoing action. Future reform will be guided by evaluation of these new measures.
These significant reforms and investments are being implemented by Government in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, communities and groups and health service providers and bodies such as the National Health Leadership Forum. These commitments and actions have translated to progress being made towards closing the gap in life expectancy and halving the gap in mortality between Indigenous and non-Indigenous children. We have seen a large reduction in deaths due to circulatory disease and a small but significant decrease in smoking rates. There have been improvements in the number of Indigenous children being immunised and a reduction in infant deaths.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people still face a great number of health challenges. We need to continue to act so we not only meet the health challenges of today, but of the next decade and beyond.
A new Health Plan will help guide governments in policy making and program design for improving the health and social determinants of health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It will also guide governments in the best use of their limited resources. The Health Plan must be informed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ views on their role in, and contribution to, closing the gap in their health outcomes. Top of page
Linkages with other Strategies
Many other plans and projects exist, or are being developed, that will support improvements in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ health. These include National Health Reforms, which aim to improve Australia’s health and aged care system, and the development of the National Primary Health Care Strategic Framework. The Health Plan will build links with other major health and broader Government reforms currently underway including the National Mental Health Strategy, the National Indigenous Suicide Prevention Strategy, the National Indigenous Reform Agreement, National Early Childhood Development Strategy, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Action Plan, and the Indigenous Economic Development Strategy, amongst others.There are also broader reform processes taking place such as drug and alcohol reforms, housing, the development of a National Anti-Racism Strategy, the National Disability Insurance Scheme and a National Cultural Policy. In recognition of a holistic definition of health and the importance of the determinants of health, the Health Plan will need to create linkages with these reforms.
The Health Plan will be developed by the Australian Government in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders and their representatives. A Stakeholder Advisory Group has been established to guide the development of the Health Plan. This group brings together government and representatives with expertise in Indigenous health, the health sector, and the social determinants of health. State and Territory Governments have been invited to participate in the development of the Plan. State and Territory Government plans and strategies will also inform the development of the Health Plan.