News

Wyatt appointment as Minister a chance for change

Article from AMA Rounds of 14 June 2019 

The appointment of the first Indigenous person as Minister for Indigenous Australians is an opportunity to “get serious” about Indigenous health, Dr Bartone said. 

Ken Wyatt, the former Minister for Indigenous Health, has been promoted into Cabinet with the broader portfolio, and has promised to work with community leaders to develop an "improved" funding model for Aboriginal-controlled health services. 

The AMA has recommended Commonwealth funding for Indigenous health be almost doubled under a needs-based funding formula. 

"We've been banging on about it for so long now, we keep missing targets, and know there needs to be additional funding," Dr Bartone told the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age

Mr Wyatt was due this week to meet with peak Aboriginal health organisations to discuss a new funding agreement to support the sector in delivering culturally appropriate and clinically effective services, to be implemented from July 2020.