Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing
Health services and support are available to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the ACT community and surrounding area.
Health considerations
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders experience a health impact greater than other Australians, particularly in relation to chronic and communicable diseases, infant health, mental health and life expectancy.
Many of the diseases that contribute to the gap in potential years of life lost are caused in part by risk factors that are more common among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples than other Australians.
Many of the risk factors are preventable, which suggests there is an important role for health prevention to reduce the mortality between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and other Australians and close the gap in life expectancy.
Addressing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health issues
ACT Health is working to do this by:
- supporting local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services to deliver culturally specific and appropriate health, social, emotional and wellbeing services
- developing strategic partnerships with key stakeholders in ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
- building the capacity of ACT Health to address health and wellbeing through culturally safe and accessible services
- providing advice and support on strategic policy issues of national, territory-wide and health sector importance
- implementing actions from the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Agreement 2019-2028.
The ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Agreement
The ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Agreement 2019-2028 sets a10 year direction in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs in the ACT to deliver equitable outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The agreement is now in phase two and focuses on:
- health and wellbeing
- community leadership
- inclusive community
- children and young people
- economic participation
- cultural integrity
- justice.
The ACT Health Health Partnerships team is working with stakeholders to implement actions from the agreement. Find out more about the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Agreement 2019-2028
Find out more about the role we play and our partnerships across community and organisations.
Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm
ACT Health operates and manages the Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm (NBHF) however planning is underway to transition the NBHF to Community-control.