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The Australian Indigenous Doctors' Association (AIDA) has issued two statements concerning the Australian Government's intervention to stop Indigenous child abuse in the Northern Territory.
A statement of Indigenous identity, strength and culture at the Garma Festival
'The Garma Festival has been a forum where Indigenous and non-Indigenous knowledge and identity are negotiated in a respectful and culturally-safe environment. I hope the Minister accepts our statement in the spirit of good faith that we, as Indigenous doctors and advocates for our people, present it.'
—Dr Mark Wenitong, AIDA President
AIDA will present the following statement to the Minister at the Garma Festival:
Body, mind, spirit and 'country' are all connected as one
Each critical for the survival of the other
All fundamental to health and wellbeing
Success will come when
Our culture is valued
Our relationships are respected
Our identity is protected
By all Australians
It is time to see through our eyes
Hear our words
And heal all of our hearts together
Read the full media release: Indigenous doctors to present Mal Brough with a statement of Indigenous identity, strength and culture at the Garma Festival
Maori doctors concerned for long-term improvements in Indigenous Australians' health
Dr Tamara Mackean, AIDA Vice-President has welcomed the statement from the Te Ohu Rata o Aotearoa – Maori Medical Practitioners Association (Te ORA).
Dr David Jansen, Chairperson of Te ORA:
'Te ORA is aware of the enormous burden of illness and socio-economic disadvantage that has been carried by Aboriginal communities in Australia for many decades. Substantial improvements in Aboriginal health and social outcomes require well resourced, consistent and sustained long term strategies. The involvement of Aboriginal people in the development, implementation and evaluation of these strategies is essential.
'Te ORA welcomes the Australian Federal Government's stated intention to improve child health in Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory. However we are concerned about the narrow scope of the measures, the nature of the measures being implemented and the processes used to implement them.
'Te ORA believes that the programme will identify a wide range health and social issues that need to be addressed. The identification of health and social issues without adequate, appropriate and long term interventions to eliminate the causes is unethical and will harm children and the communities in which they live.
'Te ORA is concerned about the processes being used to implement the Government's programme. We urge the Government to take advantage of the expertise of Aboriginal people working in health and related areas at national and regional levels. We also urge the Government to involve community leaders in the planning and implementation of the programme in individual communities. We believe that an inclusive approach is required to ensure the full participation by communities, and to ensure that the programme does not inflict further harm on fragile and vulnerable individuals and communities.'
Read the full media release: Maori doctors concerned for long-term improvements in Indigenous Australians' health (PDF)
The reaction from the authors of the Children are Sacred report, and Prime Minister Howard's response
NT report authors 'betrayed'
Report from the Australian Associated Press:
The authors of the child abuse report that prompted the federal government's emergency intervention say they feel devastated and betrayed by the crackdown.
'When we turned the TV on and saw the troops roll into the Northern Territory we were just sort of devastated to think that that could happen,' said Ms Anderson, an Aborigine and an expert in indigenous health.
Howard defends NT intervention
Report from the Australian Associated Press:
The authors of the report that prompted the radical intervention, Pat Anderson and Rex Wild, have criticised the federal government for ignoring the report's recommendations.
But Mr Howard said the majority of indigenous elders support the government's intervention strategies.
"I don't accept that a majority of Aboriginal opinion is against what we're doing."
Mr Howard said it was a common view that child sex abuse in the Northern Territory was a major issue.
"We argue that our intervention plan is the way to respond," he said.
Further reading
For more information on the Little Children are Sacred report, see the ECA news item:
June 2007 - Report on child abuse in NT Indigenous communities
Related items on the Early Childhood Australia website:
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