Author: Pawas Gupta

Last week, the Morrison Government announced an additional $2 billion to extend the COVID-19 health response until 31 March 2021. The additional funding increases the Government’s COVID-19 health response to more than $16.5 billion since March 2020.

The extra funding covers Medicare-subsidised telehealth and pathology services, GP-led respiratory clinics, home medicines delivery, extended public and private hospital services, as well as further investments in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) across Australia.

The AH&MRC supports the additional funds towards a national stockpile of PPE, as PPE shortage has been an ongoing challenge for many Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services.

Medicare-subsidised pathology and testing at the point of care will continue in 86 rural and remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities across Australia.

“It is reassuring to see subsided COVID-19 testing and pathology remain for Aboriginal Communities. This helps remove barriers that may prevent Aboriginal people from getting tested, ensures early detection and minimises the risk of a possible outbreak in our Communities,” said Robert Skeen, AH&MRC CEO.

Some of the other health response initiatives include the National Coronavirus Helpline and Health Direct Website and home delivery services to support people in isolation and limit Community transmission of COVID-19.

“We are pleased to see the considered measures to offer ongoing support for Aboriginal people to stay safe in New South Wales (NSW) and across Australia,” said Robert Skeen.

It is great that the Government has telehealth because it has enabled people in our regional Communities to continue to access care for chronic health conditions,” said Robert Skeen.

“As COVID-19 cases continue to occur across Australia, the AH&MRC remains committed to supporting our 47 Member Services to protect the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal Communities in NSW,” said Robert Skeen.

“The additional funding will strengthen Australia’s health response to COVID-19, help prevent the spread and encourage testing for the months to come,” said Robert Skeen.

AH&MRC welcomes the new National Agreement on Closing the Gap as a historic shift to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ life outcomes.

The National Agreement signals a turning point in the relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and governments – one that is based on shared decision making on policies and programs that impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ lives and futures.

Aboriginal Health & Medical Research Council (AH&MRC) came together with more than fifty other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled peak bodies (Coalition of Peaks) to represent our Member Services and Communities because governments had failed to make substantial progress on Closing the Gap.

The voices of the more than 4000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people participated in engagements on what should be included in the new National Agreement. The Coalition of Peaks collectively showed that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people had a direct say in what was important to them.

The new National Agreement is a commitment from all governments to change the way they work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities and organisations through four Priority Reforms areas which broadly include:

1. Share decision making and new partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities across Australia
2. Strengthening the Community Controlled Sector to deliver close the gap services
3. Improving mainstream government institutions to address structural racism
4. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have access to and capability to use local data to monitor close the gap efforts and drive their own programs and policies

“Until now the Closing the Gap was just about governments. We needed to have ownership of it and be an equal part of the decision-making process. This is one of the major changes in the new Agreement on Closing the Gap. Australian governments will work in a formal partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives through the Coalition of Peaks,” said Robert Skeen, AH&RMC CEO.

“I am pleased to see a focus on strengthening the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community-Controlled Sector as a priority area. We want to support our sector, create new jobs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and bring opportunities for our healthcare workers to develop their own programs as they continue to provide culturally safe healthcare services, with better health outcomes for our Communities,” said Robert Skeen, AH&MRC CEO

There is a big difference from what governments alone were prepared to commit to in December 2018 and where we are now. The Coalition of Peaks, with the collective support of our Communities and organisations have worked hard to push governments.

The National Agreement does not include everything that the Coalition of Peaks wanted, nor everything that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have said is needed to improve their lives but Governments were pushed because the Coalition of Peaks have been at the negotiating table.

The National Agreement establishes 16 national socio-economic targets in areas including early childhood, education, employment and health.

“I am disappointed there is no set target that focuses on reducing violence against women and children. We will continue to advocate for governments to do better. I am pleased to see targets on new areas previously excluded in Closing the Gap strategy, including a target to reduce suicides of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people towards zero,” said Robert Skeen.

There is still a long way to go and a lot of work to be done to achieve equality in health and life expectancy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We will continue to work hard to overcome the gaps and ensure our people can have bright and healthy futures.

The National Agreement and the work of the Coalition of Peaks complements the efforts led by First Nations people across the country to improve the life outcomes of our people, including the implementation of the Uluru Statement of the Heart through a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament. This is one part of a much bigger picture for our people. We know there is more to be done, and we will keep pushing.

To read the full new National Agreement on Closing the Gap, please visit the Coalition of Peaks website: https://coalitionofpeaks.org.au/new-national-agreement-on-closing-the-gap/

END

For more information and media enquiries

• AH&MRC: Nadia Ruben on 0418 415 938 or nruben@ahmrc.org.au; and Lucy Butler at lbutler@ahmrc.org.au
• Coalition of Peaks: Jo Scard on 0457 725 953 or jo@fiftyacres.com; and Julia Macerola on 0422 337 332 or julia@fiftyacres.com

About the Coalition of Peaks

The Coalition of Peaks is a representative body of around fifty Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled peak organisations and members. The Coalition of Peaks came together on their own as an act of self-determination to be formal partners with Australian governments on Closing the Gap. Members are either national, state or territory wide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled peak bodies including certain independent statutory authorities. Their governing boards are elected by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and / or organisations.

For more information on the Coalition of Peaks and to sign up to their mailing list, go to: www.coalitionofpeaks.org.au

NSW Health have confirmed 13 new COVID-19 cases linked to the Crossroads Hotel located in Casula, a suburb in Sydney’s South West region. There are significant concerns that these cases  increase the risk of Community transmission in NSW and we must continue to take the right steps to slow the spread, and keep our Communities safe.

AH&MRC’s CEO, Robert Skeen: “Following the advice of NSW Health, AH&MRC urges anyone who has visited the Crossroads Hotel, including staff and patrons between Friday 3^rd to Friday 10^th July to self-isolate for 14 days from the day they last visited and have a COVID-19 test as soon as possible.” A full list of COVID-19 testing clinics is available here.

Visitors to the Crossroads Hotel who feel unwell with flu-like symptoms such as a fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose or shortness of breath must immediately have a COVID-19 test and should follow the advice from their healthcare professional.

Some people can be infected with COVID-19 and show no symptoms. NSW Health urges anyone who visited the Crossroads Hotel to go to their nearest COVID-19 testing location to be tested, even if they do not have any symptoms of illness.

It is important to note that even with a negative COVID-19 test result, the 14-day self-isolation period must be completed. This is because people with COVID-19 may develop symptoms up to 14 days after they have been in contact to a person with COVID-19 and a recent negative test will not identify a person who may develop the illness later.

AH&MRC’S CEO, Robert Skeen: “Self-isolation is an important measure to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in our Community and reduce the possibility of spreading the virus to Elders, family members and friends, who may become severely unwell with COVID-19. We all have a part to play to keep our Communities safe, healthy and strong during this pandemic.”

AH&MRC encourages everyone to continue practicing good hygiene and social distancing measures including regularly washing your hands, covering your coughs and sneezes and continue to practice physical distancing by keeping 1.5 metres apart from other people and avoid large gatherings. There can be a maximum of only 20 visitors to your home at any one time, and no more than 20 people can gather outside in a public place. Retail businesses and restaurants must ensure that each person has 4 square metres of space and have a COVID-19 Safety Plan.

If you or anyone in your family is feeling unwell with flu-like symptoms stay home and arrange to get a COVID-19 test at your closest COVID-19 testing clinic. Please call your nearest Aboriginal Medical Service for more information, especially if you have any concerns about having recently attended the Crossroads Hotel during the 3 to 10 July.

You may also visit this NSW Health website for information about this incident at https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/news/Pages/20200713_00.aspx or you may wish to call the National Coronavirus Helpline on 1800 020 080, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“Mass gatherings where people are close together are high-risk for spreading COVID-19,” said Pat Turner, CEO of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation.

“It has been recognised that COVID-19 poses a serious risk to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people due to higher levels of chronic conditions especially those aged 50 years and older.

“The specific advice of all health authorities is that while COVID-19 remains in Australia that everyone should take precautions including the social distancing and hygiene practices,” she said.

“People with coronavirus can spread the virus for at least 48 hours before showing symptoms. Those who attended the rally should take every precaution they can in terms of practical measures to protect themselves and their families.

“It is important you continue with social distancing, regular hand washing and cough hygiene. If you can, avoid contact with Elders and with people with chronic medical conditions as these people are at much higher risk of serious COVID-19 illness if they get infected. If you develop even the mildest of symptoms, stay home and get a COVID-19 test. The symptoms that warrant a COVID-19 test include a sore throat, cough, shortness of breath, chills, night sweats or a temperature over 37.5°C.

“As per government’s health advice, people who marched don’t need to isolate unless they felt sick, in which case, they should get tested. The earlier we pick up infections, the quicker we can move to prevent further spread.”

NACCHO is the national peak body representing more than 140 Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) across the country on Aboriginal health and wellbeing issues. NACCHO represents over 6,000 ACCHO staff – of which 3,500 are Indigenous – and is the largest employer of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia.

ACCHOs have almost 50 years of experience in the delivery of comprehensive primary health care. Services are delivered through fixed, outreach and mobile clinics operating in urban, rural and remote settings across Australia.