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| Voice will have positive impact on Aboriginal mental health, says peak psychiatric body | Voice will have positive impact on Aboriginal mental health, says peak psychiatric body |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Indigenous doctors group also endorses a yes vote in the referendum as ‘a way of making people feel they have a stake in the future’ | Indigenous doctors group also endorses a yes vote in the referendum as ‘a way of making people feel they have a stake in the future’ |
| The nation’s peak psychiatric body believes the voice will have positive mental health benefits for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, saying self-determination is critical to improved outcomes for Indigenous Australians. | The nation’s peak psychiatric body believes the voice will have positive mental health benefits for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, saying self-determination is critical to improved outcomes for Indigenous Australians. |
| The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) is the latest expert group to back the referendum, announcing its support on Thursday alongside similar endorsement from the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association (Aida). The RANZCP’s Prof Helen Milroy, a descendant of the Palyku people of the Pilbara region, said the voice would have major benefits for Indigenous people. | |
| “We deal with mental health and distress, and are aware of what’s required to improve wellbeing. One of those things is having a voice, being heard in a way that’s empowering and powerful,” she said. | “We deal with mental health and distress, and are aware of what’s required to improve wellbeing. One of those things is having a voice, being heard in a way that’s empowering and powerful,” she said. |
| “It’s about making people feel like they’ve got a stake in their future, and self-determination.” | “It’s about making people feel like they’ve got a stake in their future, and self-determination.” |
| Other mental health groups including Black Dog and Beyondblue have raised concerns about the negative effects of the referendum, citing concerns about the impact of racist language or feelings of rejection through the campaign. The RANZCP said Indigenous people still experienced impacts of colonisation, dispossession, and systemic racism and inequality, and backed the voice as a way to address some concerns. | Other mental health groups including Black Dog and Beyondblue have raised concerns about the negative effects of the referendum, citing concerns about the impact of racist language or feelings of rejection through the campaign. The RANZCP said Indigenous people still experienced impacts of colonisation, dispossession, and systemic racism and inequality, and backed the voice as a way to address some concerns. |
| “The importance of self-determination cannot be underestimated. Being heard, listened to and respected is vital to our mental health,” said its president Dr Elizabeth Moore. | “The importance of self-determination cannot be underestimated. Being heard, listened to and respected is vital to our mental health,” said its president Dr Elizabeth Moore. |
| In a statement the RANZCP said: “just as person-centred care is the foundation of mental health care, self-determination is critical for better mental health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.” | |
| “Self-determination is only one part of the overall healing process, yet it is an essential part, and one that cannot be underestimated.” | “Self-determination is only one part of the overall healing process, yet it is an essential part, and one that cannot be underestimated.” |
| Milroy, named an OAM in this year’s Australia Day honours for significant service to public health and the Indigenous community, is recognised as Australia’s first Indigenous doctor. She’s also a professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Western Australia, and a commissioner with the National Mental Health Commission. | |
| Milroy backed the voice as a way to give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people more say in policies that affected them. | Milroy backed the voice as a way to give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people more say in policies that affected them. |
| “Self-determination contributes to a positive impact, and a say in what happens to you. That hasn’t always happened in the past,” she said. | “Self-determination contributes to a positive impact, and a say in what happens to you. That hasn’t always happened in the past,” she said. |
| “Children can grow up with a sense of empowerment, with their communities having a say in their destiny. It’s not just important for individuals, but their families.” | “Children can grow up with a sense of empowerment, with their communities having a say in their destiny. It’s not just important for individuals, but their families.” |
| Milroy said that, just as Kevin Rudd’s 2007 apology to the stolen generations “was not the answer to everything”, neither would the voice be – noting further progress beyond the referendum. | Milroy said that, just as Kevin Rudd’s 2007 apology to the stolen generations “was not the answer to everything”, neither would the voice be – noting further progress beyond the referendum. |
| “The voice is one step, but we also need truth telling, we need to resolve issues from the past. That’s what will contribute to a greater sense of self and wellbeing,” she said. | “The voice is one step, but we also need truth telling, we need to resolve issues from the past. That’s what will contribute to a greater sense of self and wellbeing,” she said. |
| The head of Aida, Donna Burns, also backed the voice as a path toward self-determination and better health outcomes. | The head of Aida, Donna Burns, also backed the voice as a path toward self-determination and better health outcomes. |
| “A voice to parliament will help achieve this by providing decision makers with direct advice from those directly impacted by policies and laws,” she said. | “A voice to parliament will help achieve this by providing decision makers with direct advice from those directly impacted by policies and laws,” she said. |
| “The data overwhelmingly demonstrates that an unacceptable health gap persists due to the health inequities experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.” | “The data overwhelmingly demonstrates that an unacceptable health gap persists due to the health inequities experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.” |
| Aida said in a statement that the voice would “recognise the formative place of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia’s history, while ensuring that the wellbeing of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples should no longer be discriminated and politicised”. |