NEDC says YES

NEDC joins our colleagues from across the Australian health and mental health sector in declaring our support for the Yes Vote for the Voice to Parliament in the upcoming referendum. 

We stand with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities, and believe that the Voice offers a positive step towards reconciliation which will have lasting impacts.  

The referendum presents a unique opportunity to heed the call of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and create a permanent means for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to have a say in matters that affect them. This is an important act of redress, which we may not have another opportunity to make in our lifetimes. 
 
Social and emotional wellbeing – now and for the future 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities experience significant health and social inequities as a result of Australia's colonial history, ongoing discrimination and systemic racism. As a mental health organisation, we are particularly aware of the potential of the Voice to address these inequities and improve social and emotional wellbeing and related outcomes.  

Self-determination is an important determinant of health. We believe the Voice will help achieve greater equity in Australia's policymaking and increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander self-determination. Change in the health system needs to be led by and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.  

What a Voice can do 

Earlier this year, NACCHO told the story of how effective health interventions with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities can be when governments listen to those communities about the best ways to get things done and done quickly. NACCHO led a world’s best practice response to the Covid-19 pandemic in Indigenous communities, saving an estimated 2000 lives.  

It can be done. The Voice will help to make this the rule rather than the exception. 

The Voice will also strengthen existing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations’ ability to drive change and improvements in line with the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, in partnership with governments and colleagues from the wider health and community sectors. 

Supporting wellbeing now 

All Australians can play a part in supporting the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the lead-up to the referendum. Recent research from the National Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing Research at ANU indicates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples may experience stress, burnout, increased racism and re-traumatisation. They may also feel pressure to educate non-Indigenous Australians about the Referendum. The Centre has published factsheets and links to relevant information and supports for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Key tips for non-Indigenous people include: 

• Be aware that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are experiencing added stress, mental load and racism during this period.
• Educate yourself about the Referendum, to reduce the burden on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to provide this education.
• Provide support to your Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander friends, family and colleagues. 
• Take responsibility for reporting racism via the Call It Out First Nations Racism Register.