Key Areas of Advocacy

The second National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan for 2021 to 2031 was released 15 December 2021.  To access the plan click here.

The new Health Plan was developed partnership with members of the NHLF, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities and the Government. This Plans what can achieve when co-design is based on empowerment, trust and mutual respect.

NHLF members co-designed this new plan and advocated for the Plan to focus on

• Embedding the social determinants of health and cultural determinants of health;
• Ensuring alignment with government policies and priorities; and
• ensuring transparency and true accountability of government agencies.

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workforce and Implementation Plan 2021-2031 was released 13 March 2021. To access the Plan click here

This Plan is the first of its kind. It seeks to have Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people equally represented alongside non-Indigenous workers across the health sector by 2031. This plan includes an implementation component that ensures we see concrete actions  and accountability measures for governments to be judged by.

The NHLF was instrumental in the formation of the Close the Gap Campaign and continues to lead the Campaign as the senior collective of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health leadership. Committed to achieving health equality, the NHLF draws strength from cultural integrity, the evidence base and community.

Click here More information on the Close the Gap Campaign.

The Partnership for Justice in Health (P4JH) is an alliance of self-determining Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander academics, legal experts, and national peak health and justice organisations committed to working together to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and justice outcomes through addressing racism at individual, institutional and systemic levels, specifically focusing on the health and justice systems.

P4JH collectively are well positioned to play a lead role in addressing racism and discrimination across the health and justice systems. They have:

• a comprehensive understanding of the evidence and issues and lived experiences
• professional expertise and experience in redress, cultural safety, shared decision-making and determination
• influence, connections and extensive networks across Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia and Governments, and
• a demonstrated track record in cross sectoral collaboration and delivering services in partnership.

Click here to access the P4JH website

Members of the NHLF are part of the Coalition of Peaks.

The Coalition of Peaks came together to change the way Australian governments work with our people. As community-controlled organisations, we work for and are accountable to our communities, not governments. We share a belief that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should have a meaningful say on policies and programs that impact on us through formal partnerships with Australian governments at all levels.

The National Agreement on Closing the Gap came into effect on 27 July 2020. The National Agreement sets out how governments and the Coalition of Peaks will work together to improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Click here for more information on the Coalition of Peaks