This National Reconciliation Week (27 May – 3 June), the country’s largest union, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF), is giving its unequivocal support to a ‘Yes’ vote for an enshrined Voice to Parliament.
The ANMF’s members in nursing, midwifery and aged care understand that racism is a serious health issue, which can negatively impact on both mental and physical health outcomes in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
“As frontline health professions working across Australia, we believe Constitutional recognition and a Voice to Parliament will be important mechanisms to address racism and in turn, help close the gap in health outcomes between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians,” ANMF Federal Secretary Annie Butler said today.
“Voting ‘Yes’ will ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are rightfully acknowledged as Australia’s first people in our Constitution and through a Voice to Parliament, they can have a meaningful say on issues like health, which affect their communities the most.
“It’s why a ‘Yes’ vote will be an important step along the path to Reconciliation, helping to address the interpersonal and systemic racism that still exists in Australian society.”
The ANMF is a proud supporter of the Unions for Yes campaign and acknowledges the hard work of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to bring the Voice proposal to Referendum.
We encourage Australians to learn about what is proposed in this Referendum and to reflect upon the impacts of racism in our society.
