​The ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø (AH&MRC) acknowledge the valuable support of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal staff from across ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø in ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Health and the Aboriginal Community Controlled sector who participated in multiple rounds of consultations interviews, workshops and surveys, and contributors who provided written submissions that have informed and shaped the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Aboriginal Health Governance, Shared Decision Making and Accountability Framework.
The ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Aboriginal Health Governance, Shared Decision-Making and Accountability Framework uses elements from the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Aboriginal Health Plan artwork. The artwork was created by Lakkari Pitt, a proud Gamilaroi yinarr (woman) from Walgett, New South Wales. This artwork is inspired by self-determination for Aboriginal communities and the knowledge that her Elders and significant people in her life have passed down throughout generations. Lakkari has interpreted the Priority Reform Areas of the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Aboriginal Health Plan by carefully curating symbols that tell a story. The artwork aims to act as a visual reminder to remain committed to a holistic, Aboriginal-led approach to health.
For more information on the artwork, please refer to Symbolism in artwork.
The ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Ministry of Health acknowledges Aboriginal people as the traditional custodians of the lands and waters of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø and pays respect to Elders past, present and future. In this report, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are referred to as Aboriginal people in recognition that Aboriginal people are the original inhabitants of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø.
Aboriginal health means not just the physical wellbeing of an individual but refers to the social, emotional and cultural wellbeing of the whole community in which each individual is able to achieve their full potential as a human being, thereby bringing about the total wellbeing of their community. It is a whole-of-life view and includes the cyclical concept of life-death-life.1