Response to Yoorrook Justice Commission: Health and Healthcare Inquiry

As a healthcare provider committed to health and social equity, Your Community Health is dedicated to centring the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and engaging in meaningful work to support positive outcomes in partnership with First Nations peoples.

The health disparity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is well documented, with increasing research correlating racism with poor health and wellbeing outcomes. A community-led inquiry prioritising the perspectives of First Nations peoples will provide valuable insights into historical and current injustices in order to pave the way for sustainable and positive change.

Your Community Health’s inquiry response has been informed by Aboriginal staff, community members and partner agencies. Your Community Health would like to warmly thank those that generously shared their lived experience and expertise. The submission response identifies the following key points that contribute to the health injustice Aboriginal and/Torres Strait Islander peoples experience:

• Racism remains a common experience in healthcare settings.
• Lack of timely and affordable access to healthcare disproportionately impacts Aboriginal people.
• ACCHO’s are integral to improving health outcomes and broader reform is needed to improve the mainstream healthcare system.
• Health entitlements and initiatives are under-utilised.
• Meaningful community engagement is required to improve healthcare.
• White concepts of health (bio-medical model) don’t meet the holistic health needs of community.
• Aboriginal employees are essential in mainstream healthcare but there are multiple challenges experienced.

Your Community Health recognises there are unique perspectives in relation to preferred language when referring to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples. Your Community Health respectfully utilises the term ‘Aboriginal’ throughout the document, intended to encompass all Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples. When referring to First Nations peoples, this is specific to an Australian context.