RANZCO endorses Uluru Statement from the Heart – Voice, Treaty, Truth

The Uluru Statement calls for Constitution and Legislative change in Australia and the Makarrata Commission; a process of truth-telling about Australia’s history and colonisation. RANZCO supports the Uluru Statement as a vital step in achieving true reconciliation and equity with our First Nation’s peoples.

Dr Ashish Agar, RANZCO’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Officer explains, “our RAP framework, launched in November 2019, commits RANZCO to activities that seek to achieve equity in access and health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Endorsement of the Uluru statement is an essential part of the journey to close the gap in eye health inequality.”

Endorsement of the Uluru statement is an essential part of the journey to close the gap in eye health inequality

RANZCO acknowledges that health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples is inextricably linked to self-determination and that there is strong evidence to support improvement in health outcomes when Indigenous peoples take greater control over their health.

Under the RAP Framework, RANZCO carries out activities that:

• Seek to achieve equity in access and health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples;
• Continue to build collaborative partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and the health sector;
• Build on the College’s existing commitment to increasing the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ophthalmologists in Australia;
• Improve and enhance the organisation’s cultural awareness;
• Support education and training that ensure doctors are aware of the impact of their own culture and cultural values on the delivery of services, historically and at present, and have knowledge of, respect for and sensitivity towards the cultural needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples; and
• Close the gap in eye health inequality.

View RANZCO’s Position Statement here.