80 per cent of health sector workers feel Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people would benefit from having more input into Indigenous health policy, according to a recent survey.
1600 respondents to the questions put forward by the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation returned majority agreement on the merit of a re-shape to service delivery with a Voice to Parliament.
Over 75 per cent felt Indigenous people do not have enough of a say in the health policy specific to them.
A broad range of roles - from Aboriginal health workers, to dentists and pharmacists, were surveyed.
57 respondents identified as First Nations with their views were consistent with the overall group.
More than 50 leading Victorian health organisations joined to endorse the Voice to Parliament as a means to delivering more effective care in Melbourne on Sunday.
Speakers shared personal experience and their viewpoints within their work.
North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network chair, Dr Ines Rio, said health care will benefit from listening "to people who know what they need and who know what will work for them".
"For too long we've done things to or for First Nations people. Instead, each of our organisations, all who are involved in providing, funding, advocating for and improving health services, have long understood that instead we must do things with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people," Dr Rio said.
"Only then can we achieve sustainable health improvements."
Dr Rio said steps forward so far have been "insufficient", "patchy", and not far enough reaching.
"We've relied on individuals and organisations rather than what we need; a nationwide expectation or requirement for effective and accountable health care policy," he said.
"We've been afforded the privilege of ensuring that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are listened to and heard so that their path ahead in the achievement of health and well being is different from that behind them."
Australian Nursing & Midwifery Council assistant secretary and registered nurse, Madeleine Harradence, said programs and policy co-designed with Indigenous people "just makes perfect sense", while Dr Libby Rochstien from for-purpose health organisation EACH's Ngarrang Gulinj-al Boordup Aboriginal Health & Wellbeing clinic, and Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperative GP, Dr Erin Gordan, spoke of effectiveness brought by deeper cultural understanding of patients.
The points were echoed by VicHealth chief executive Dr Sandro Demaio.
"I know that when we listen to communities, when we listen deeply and with respect and when we factor their priorities into our decision making, we make better decisions. We go further faster. We develop more efficient and practical health programmes. We deliver less waste, and most importantly we deliver better health outcomes," he said.
"This is a once in a generation opportunity to respect and recognise the oldest continuous culture in the world and, of course to enshrine the voices and perspectives of First Nations Australians in the decision making of government."
VACCHO chief executive Aunty Jill Gallagher said the Voice would strengthen the relationship between local communities and Government.
Aunty Jill believes the designing of health services is a process to be undertaken with an enshrined Voice.
