2018-10-31
The Victorian Greens will turn around the imbalance of health and welfare outcomes suffered by Aboriginal Victorians with a commitment to a Commissioner for Aboriginal Health, establishing Healing Places across the state, ending homelessness for Aboriginal people and a proper treaty process that delivers empowerment, self-determination and resources to Aboriginal communities.
Research released this year by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare revealed the extent of damage the Stolen Generation has had on those Aboriginal people's lives. It found:
- 67 percent live with a disability or restrictive long term condition
- 39 percent over the age of 50 report poor mental health
- 70 percent rely on government payments as their main source of income
- 40 percent have experienced homelessness in the past 10 years.
Given 36 percent of the Victorian Aboriginal population are Stolen Generation or decedents of the Stolen Generation, many suffering second generation trauma, the impacts are far reaching.
The Greens package includes:
- $20 million over four years for an Aboriginal Health Commissioner.
- Begin a consultation process with the vision of establishing 38 Healing Places across the state, led by the 38 Nations.
- Ensure the treaty process provides real self-determination, empowerment, cultural respect, compensation and funding channelled into services, programs and facilities that will improve the lives of grassroots communities.
- Ensure no Aboriginal person is homeless in Victoria by investing in 80,000 new and refurbished public housing, community and affordable housing homes over the next 12 years.
- $200,000 in compensation to each survivor of the stolen generation, plus funding for keeping places, memorials and care, valued at $110 million in total.
Quotes attributable to Lidia Thorpe:
"We are tired of seeing these statistics and nothing being done to turn them around. These are not just numbers, they are people's lives, and urgent action is needed now to address why, in 2018, Aboriginal Victorians suffer health and welfare issues in such large numbers.
“The Commissioner for Aboriginal Health would have the teeth to hold the government to account on delivering on its Aboriginal Health Plan, addressing the social causes of ill-health and delivering real change to the lives of Aboriginal Victorians.
“We need Healing Places across this state, where people can re-connect with culture and with each other. Where they can come together to share stories, to yarn and support each other. Only through a holistic approach can healing really be achieved.
“The Healing Places could provide trauma-informed care for those who need it, but could also be a hub for learning traditional languages and dance, youth programs, arts and music programs, education, referral to services and much more. "