Supporting healthy communities focus for three-day Cairns forum

Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area Mayors, Councillors and staff came together in Cairns earlier this month work on identifying health priorities for the region over the next two decades.

The Healthy Communities Forum 2023 was about sharing experiences and developing ideas for the future, with policy makers, researchers, service providers and leaders working together over three days.

Up-to-date information and data on health and wellbeing in the region was the basis for discussion led by six different panels followed by daily breakout workshops to reflect on the forum presentations and discuss key issues.

Presenters and panelists included National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) chair Donella Mills, Queensland Aboriginal &

Islander Health Council (QAIHC) chair Matthew Cooke, Torres & Cape Hospital & Health Service Clinical Nurse Consultant Sam Mills, Torres Health Indigenous Corporation board member Dr Sean Taylor, Associate Professor Phillip Mills, Mura Kosker Sorority CEO Aletia Twist, Wakai Waian Healing Social Worker Ivy Trevallion, Children’s Health Queensland Equity Program Manager Wyomie Robertson, University of

Queensland School of Public Health Indigenous Pathways Lecturer Francis Nona and community members with interests in youth, maternal and child health, and environment.

On the third day priorities and actions for the future were tabled, to be compiled into a report it was hoped would influence long-term health outcomes for our region. We’ll have a report on those priorities and actions in our next issue.

Reconciliation Australian Chief Executive Karen Mundine said constitutional recognition and a greater say for First Nations peoples was a central pillar of the reconciliation movement.

“In 2000 our predecessor, the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, presented its final report in which it called for a referendum for constitutional recognition, and stressed the critical importance of a greater First Nations voice in decisions that impact us,” Ms Mundine said.

“More than 20 years later the reconciliation movement is just as certain and just as passionate that these outcomes are central to Australia’s journey of reconciliation.

“This announcement is a clear expression of support for the three main actions in the Uluru Statement; Voice, Treaty and Truthtelling, urges Australians to support the ‘Yes’ campaign.and to join in the week of action.”

Last week Reconciliation Australia announced the theme for National Reconciliation Week 2023 was Be a Voice for Generations and 27/7/23*.

The theme called on Australians to honour the work of generations past who fought for justice in Australia and to work together today to tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation, including the Voice to Parliament, for the generations to come.

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