Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response with Aboriginal Communities

​Aboriginal peoples in NSW are at a greater risk from morbidity and mortality during a public health emergency due to existing challenges accessing health services, social determinants of health and a higher prevalence of people living with chronic conditions.

Preparedness and response planning led by Aboriginal people will ensure strategies reflect the needs of Aboriginal communities. Policies that align with, and support Aboriginal cultural values and practices minimise potential health impacts to Aboriginal peoples prior to, during, and after public health emergencies.

Key resource

Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response with Aboriginal Communities (GL2024_016) outlines guiding principles and actions in prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery specific to Aboriginal Communities when planning at local, regional, and state levels with key stakeholders.

Considerations when planning for emergencies with Aboriginal communities

Key considerations when developing emergency plans and services for Aboriginal communities include:

• self-determination at all 4 stages of prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery
• information for Aboriginal communities is to be informed by Aboriginal people
• family, housing, and mobility patterns
• disease burden and suboptimal access to healthcare
• recognition of Aboriginal cultural values, practices, and local Lore.

Additional strategies to strengthen emergency preparedness and response with Aboriginal communities

• Embedding Aboriginal cultural governance structures in NSW Health systems at all levels to ensure shared decision making and self-determination
• Continually improve the cultural safety of health services
• Ensuring there is Aboriginal representation on Local Health District / Specialty Health Network Emergency Management Committees
• Ensuring NSW Health and the Aboriginal Community Controlled sector have formal partnership mechanisms that support active participation when planning for, and responding to, emergencies.

Additional resources

• Public Health Services Supporting Plan to HEALTHPLAN (under review)
• NSW Health Services Functional Area Supporting Plan (NSW HEALTHPLAN) (PD2024_029)
• NSW Health Public Health Emergency Response Preparedness (PD2024_002)
• NSW Health Influenza and Aboriginal people
• AH&MRC Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services Pandemic Response Toolkit (2023) 
• AH&MRC Emergency Activation Framework & Appendix Version 1.1 (2024)