Systems and Systemic Reform

Over the past 25 years, VACCHO has worked with its Members, mainstream partners and all levels of government, providing crucial platforms for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander voices, knowledge and experiences to improve health and social services, systems, and functions.

Our collective voice has advanced Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people self-determination and systemic reform to achieve better outcomes for Communities long into the future. 

VACCHO’s ambition is for a health and wellbeing system for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities that is culturally safe, free from racism and Aboriginal-led and controlled.

Self-determination is key to achieving health and wellbeing outcomes for Community. Embedding self-determination requires changing systems and structures which takes time.

Key work:

  • Cultural safety in the mainstream health system – One of VACCHO’s priorities is addressing the cultural safety of the mainstream health system, where many of our Communities still experience racist and unsafe care. A key success has been securing funding to develop a Cultural Safety Accreditation that is led by the Aboriginal Community-Controlled health sector.
  • Establishing the first Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing Partnership Forum, which gives the Aboriginal Health Sector CEOs and leaders direct access to the Minister for Health.