Health system reform is essential to ensure Aboriginal people can access an equitable and culturally safe health system, and experience health and wellbeing outcomes at the highest possible level. This is possible to achieve, if current power differentials are recognised and dedicated steps taken to redress them. Sharing power means sharing decision making, ensuring the voices of Aboriginal people hold as much weight as government’s11.
“We have to resist the temptation to avoid complex issues. People tend to drift to the easy things to do in Aboriginal health, but we need to call out the complex stuff. We will have reached optimal success if we address some of the really complex issues. If we keep avoiding the difficult things, it creates tension in the relationships and stops partnerships flourishing, and we won’t see traction on outcomes that are meaningful to people on the ground.” Aboriginal NSW Health representative, Advisory Committee member
“We have to resist the temptation to avoid complex issues. People tend to drift to the easy things to do in Aboriginal health, but we need to call out the complex stuff. We will have reached optimal success if we address some of the really complex issues. If we keep avoiding the difficult things, it creates tension in the relationships and stops partnerships flourishing, and we won’t see traction on outcomes that are meaningful to people on the ground.”
In order to meet the changing needs of communities and ensure the NSW health systems are sustainable into the future, it is important for these systems to be constantly changing and reforming. This is a long and continuous process; however, it is vital not just in meeting the needs of future generations, but in ensuring all members of our community enjoy long, healthy lives.
The NSW Aboriginal Health Plan 2024–2034 is committed to redesigning health system approaches and practices in partnership with Aboriginal people and organisations, facilitating a shift that reflects the priorities of Aboriginal people where power and decision-making are shared. This requires both a system-wide commitment to, and accountability for, Aboriginal health.
“This plan is about growth and transformation”. Aboriginal NSW Health representative, Advisory Committee member
“This plan is about growth and transformation”.
NSW Health recognises that shared power and decision- making needs to become standard practice and is committed to providing cross-sector leadership to enable this to occur consistently. Embedding opportunities for Aboriginal people to hold power and make decisions at all levels within the health system will drive widespread and positive outcomes. This will become evident in these three ways: