9 August 2022
The World Health Organization states there are an estimated 476 million Indigenous peoples in the world living across 90 countries. They make up less than 5 per cent of the world's population, but account for 15 per cent of the poorest.
Today, August 9, is International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples – a day in which people from around the world are encouraged to spread the United Nation’s message on the protection and promotion of the rights of indigenous peoples.
This year’s United Nations theme is the Role of Indigenous Women in the Preservation and Transmission of Traditional Knowledge.
The UN states that Indigenous women are the backbone of Indigenous peoples’ communities and play a crucial role in the preservation and transmission of traditional ancestral knowledge. They have an integral collective and community role as carers of natural resources and keepers of scientific knowledge. Many Indigenous women are also taking the lead in the defence of Indigenous peoples’ lands and territories and advocating for Indigenous peoples’ collective rights worldwide.
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (SA Branch) is committed to improving the health outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) peoples across South Australia including through providing career opportunities specifically targeting ATSI peoples in the field of nursing and midwifery.
The ANMF (SA Branch) recognises that:
- The poor health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is a well-known fact. Substantial inequalities exist between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians, particularly in relation to chronic and communicable diseases, infant health, mental health and life expectation.
- Indigenous Australians are 3% of the population, yet they account for only 1.7% of the workforce.
- Providing career opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the field of nursing and midwifery can make an enormous impact on the health of these communities. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples need Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nurses and midwives working in their local hospitals, community health centres and in senior management positions, for health to improve.
- It is essential that we attract and retain Indigenous people to our workforce to provide culturally appropriate health services and work towards closing the gap in health-related outcomes.
We also recognise that over half of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is under the age of 18 years and therefore supporting our young and growing Indigenous population is essential.
One of the ways the ANMF (SA Branch) is doing this is by hosting an art competition later this year with Warriappendi School.
Warriappendi is a small secondary school located at Marleston and is specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. The school engages young people in their education by creating a positive learning environment in which students are able to experience a strong sense of belonging.
“We recently delivered around 20 litres of paint to the school and we are looking forward to seeing what inspires these young people and how that is expressed in their entries,” said ANMF (SA Branch) CEO/Secretary Adj Associate Professor Elizabeth Dabars AM.
“The art competition is one of the initiatives outlined in our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) which we are proud to announce has been fully endorsed by Reconciliation Australia.”
Members can view our commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through our ANMF (SA Branch) Reconciliation Action Plan, available on our website.