Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament
Although Australia has one of the world’s highest standards of living, there are clear disparities between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across all indicators of quality of life, including eye health.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are three times more likely to experience blindness or vision loss than other Australians.
We follow in the legacy of Professor Fred Hollows, who was committed to working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to address this gap.
We believe Constitutional recognition through a Voice is critical to closing the gap in eye health and improving longer-term outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The Fred Hollows Foundation encourages all Australians to find out more and educate themselves so they can make an informed decision at referendum.
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Why is The Foundation taking a stance on the Voice?
The Federal government has committed to implementing the Uluru Statement From the Heart in full. A referendum on constitutionally enshrining an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament is expected to be held this year.
The Uluru Statement from the Heart is an historic moment to create a better future for all Australians. It is an opportunity to come together and allow Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to have a say in decisions about policies and issues that directly affect them.
The Foundation’s work in eye health is underpinned by our support of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s rights to sight, good health and self-determination.
Starting from Fred, we have always strongly supported and championed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership, design and control of health policy and services to address the gap in health outcomes, including eye health.
This is the core of our Indigenous Australia Program, which strives to end avoidable blindness in Indigenous communities by working alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and empowering them to deliver eye health services to their communities.
We believe a Voice to Parliament will ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a greater say in the policies that affect their lives.
Our support for the Voice does not diminish or impact on our sight-restoring work in Australia or overseas, but we think it is important to stand up for what we believe in, as Fred always did.
Larrakia Elder Carol Burkhard and her brother Don were both able to undergo cataract surgery with support from The Foundation. Photo Credit: Michael Amendolia
What difference will a Voice make to eye health?
Eye health is linked to broader health, social and economic outcomes. It’s a vital piece of the puzzle in improving these outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
A Voice will ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a say on policies before they are put to Parliament.
It will give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders the right to self-determine the way healthcare policies are developed and ensure services are tailored to the needs of communities.
This will improve health outcomes and have a tangible impact on other issues impacting eye health, such as diabetes.
Why is The Foundation telling me how to vote in the refererndum?
We appreciate people have different views on the Voice. We believe that sharing our position, and why, is important, but this is an individual decision for each person to make.
We encourage people to have respectful conversations about this and to do their own research via the many resources available to make an informed decision.
If you would like to join us in pledging Yes and showing your support, we very much welcome that!
The Foundation at the Allies for Uluru CEO Forum.
Photo Credit: Nalin Narang
What is The Foundation doing to support the Voice?
The Foundation has been showing our support not just for the Voice, but for the Uluru Statement From the Heart in full since its inception.
Six of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff were supported to attend the Uluru Constitutional Convention in 2017 and are original signatories to the Statement. Since then, we have made a number of submissions to the Australian Parliament to show our support and advocate for the reforms laid out in the Statement.
In 2022 The Foundation convened two Activate for Uluru Forums which brought together leadership across the health, international development and corporate sectors to learn more about the Statement and how we as organisations could support its calls for reform.
This year, The Foundation has partnered with Oxfam Australia, ANTAR and the Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS) to co-convene Allies for Uluru – a coalition of more than 250 organisations supporting the implementation of the Uluru Statement From the Heart, starting with the Voice to Parliament.
Through Allies for Uluru we act as a conduit for information and action, using our position as leading organisations to generate more awareness and knowledge on the Uluru Statement and amplify the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
Where should I go for more information?
- Uluru Statment website
- Australian Government Website – Recognition through a Voice
- Reconciliation Australia Website – Voice to Parliament
- Voice to Parliament Online Course
- Everything you need to know about the Uluru Statement from the Heart – book available for purchase
- Everything you need to know about Voice – book available for purchase
- Voice to Parliament Handbook – book available for purchase
- Start a Yarn session with the Uluru Dialogue
How can I show my support?
- Read and share the Uluru Statement from the Heart
- Pledge Yes to supporting the Voice to Parliament
- Start a conversation with your family and friends
- Share your support on social media
- Sign up as a Yes 23 volunteer, buy merchandise and donate Join a Local Yes Group
- Join a Local Yes Group
COVER PHOTO: The Fred Hollows Foundation
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