Recognise First Nations people know best when it comes to improving health outcomes in their communities, and things might actually improve.
Government decision-makers must let go of the belief that they know best for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for there to be any real positive changes towards closing the gap, say the Productivity Commissioners.
“Real change does not mean multiplying or renaming business-as-usual actions,” wrote Romlie Mokak and Natalie Siegel-Brown in the PC’s Review of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap report.
“It means looking deeply to get to the heart of the way systems, departments and public servants work.
“Most critically, the Agreement requires government decision-makers to accept that they do not know what is best for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.”
The review found that it was clear that progress in implementing the CTG Agreement “has, for the most part, been weak”.
“This raises questions about whether governments have fully grasped the scale of change required to their systems, operations and ways of working to deliver the unprecedented shift they have committed to,” said Mokak and Siegel-Brown.
Public health experts jumped on the report, called for all governments to heed the recommendations to strengthen implementation and clarify the intent of the four priority reform areas.
The Public Health Association of Australia released a statement in response.
“Sadly, the review provides evidence that the socio-economic targets outlined in the Agreement are not likely to be met without such fundamental changes, and risks becoming yet another a broken promise to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,” said the PHAA’s statement.
“We cannot stand back and let that happen.
“We must embrace the challenge set out in the review by confronting the need for real change.
“We must take decisive and courageous action to fulfil the recommendations to effectively close the gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.”
The PC report made four recommendations for immediate action by all governments:
- Power needs to be shared;
- Indigenous Data Sovereignty needs to be recognised and supported;
- Mainstream systems and culture need to be fundamentally rethought; and
- Stronger accountability.
The full Productivity Commission report can be read here.