- The Guardian
- Issue #2057
Graphic: Eddie
As Australia is being asked to consider a Voice to Parliament for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the New South Wales Nurses and Midwives’ Association (NSWNMA) is formally supporting this important initiative.
In 2018, the NSWNMA Committee of Delegates passed a resolution in support of the Uluru Statement from the Heart:
That this Committee of Delegates recognises that as a health union the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association has a special responsibility to support measures that contribute to improved health outcomes and progress reconciliation with Australia’s First Peoples. The NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association reaffirms its commitment to closing the gap in health and life expectancy between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians.
We recognise that this will require a multifaceted approach and that self-determination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people must be fundamental. Therefore, this Committee of Delegates supports implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart as another step forward on the path to Reconciliation.
In acting on the democratic decision of members, the NSWNMA is supporting the proposal to establish an Indigenous Voice that is enshrined in the Constitution.
As a trade union, we firmly support issues of social justice and take an active role in promoting and supporting positive outcomes for all communities.
We believe Australia’s original custodians deserve greater representation at the highest level, particularly when it comes to the decision-making processes that impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
