Indigenous representation, leadership, community-controlled organisations, and cultural and practical knowledge are critical to achieving health equity, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners says.
The RACGP have marked NAIDOC Week by reiterating its commitment to the Uluru Statement from the Heart with the launch of a position statement.
Group president Dr Michael Wright and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healthcare Chair Dr Karen Nicholls both highlighted improved health outcomes out of Indigenous-led care.
RACGP backed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led efforts for reform, broadly, alongside ongoing commitments to working with ACCHOs and Indigenous health sector peak bodies, advocated for and called on Primary Health Networks to strengthen the space for Indigenous health workers and service delivery, and backed those workers' roles in closing the health gap.
RACGP acknowledged "the cultural and practical knowledge within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector as essential to improving the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to achieve health equity" in its position statement.
It also advocated for treaty and truth-telling mechanisms in the country's future, encouraging the recently re-elected federal government to deliver on these reforms.
"Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander GPs are such an important part of our health workforce and continuing to support and grow this workforce is a priority," Dr Nicholls said.
She added RACGP internal programs and affiliations with major Indigenous health sector organisations and peak bodies are "crucial" to growing the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander GPs.
RACGP currently has 160 Indigenous GP fellows across healthcare settings and locations, she said, adding: "an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healthcare workforce delivers better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples" has strong evidence behind it.
"Thinking on the NAIDOC theme of 'The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy' we can celebrate the fact that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are represented across the whole spectrum of general practice," Dr Nicholls said.
"We have incredible GP leaders who have been GPs for decades and broke through barriers and paved the way, providing that legacy of strength and demonstrating what is possible for community.
"And we have incredible upcoming future GPs, those who are trainees, medical students or even high school students thinking about general practice.
"They represent the bright future ahead and are strong leaders who are backed by the vision of communities and the legacy of their ancestors."
In 2023, RACGP backed the Yes campaign ahead of the Voice to Parliament referendum. They also made submissions to Victoria's Yoorrook Justice Commission and 2018 Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The three pillars of the Uluru Statement; Voice, Treaty and Truth, play a role in 'improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples', RACGP reiterated.
Last year, the group announced new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural and Health Training Framework and more recently endorsed the National Association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners (NAATSIHWP) guide to general practice.
RACGP have backed the Uluru Statement since 2018.
Its president Dr Wright believes advancing the Uluru Statement gives the Government more "real opportunities" to support self-determination, deliver on priority reforms and achieve National Agreement on Closing the Gap targets.
"NAIDOC Week is a time for us to reflect on and acknowledge the histories, cultures and leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their vision for the future, including self-determination and honouring the strengths of communities. Our position statement backs this vision," Dr Wright said.
Dr Wright pointed to RACGP's "self-determination and truth-telling are vital to achieving health equity, and health outcomes are stronger when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples take control over their communities' health and wellbeing".
He added ACCHOs (Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations) and their work are examples of this.
"Celebrating NAIDOC week is very important to the RACGP, including recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander GPs and restating our commitment to a culturally safe and reflective GP workforce more broadly, through implementing our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural and Health Training Framework and our commitments to a healthcare system free from racism."
