The Independent Directors and Senior Executive of the VCCC Alliance believe the Voice referendum to alter the Constitution to establish an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament is an important step to supporting Aboriginal-led solutions in cancer control.
Self-determination is a driver of better health outcomes
Extensive research highlights that self-determination is an enabler to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and this is the underpinning of our position. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ health status is linked to ‘control over their physical environment, of dignity, of community self-esteem, and of justice. It is not merely a matter of the provision of doctors, hospitals, medicines or the absence of disease and incapacity’ (Garces-Ozanne et al. 2016). More recently, The Lancet editorial argued “Any attempt to address the health inequities of Indigenous peoples will require governments to…enact and enforce the rights of Indigenous peoples to self-determination and territorial sovereignty.”
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have worse cancer outcomes
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to have a higher incidence of fatal, screen-detectable and preventable cancers and are more likely to be diagnosed at more advanced stages, often with co-morbidities that are more complex (Cunningham et al. 2008). Moreover whilst cancer mortality is improving for non-Indigenous Australians, it is not for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (AIHW, 2018). Compared with non-Indigenous Australians diagnosed with the same cancer, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are disadvantaged because they are usually diagnosed later with more advanced disease, are less likely to have treatment, and often have to wait longer for surgery than non-Indigenous patients (Hall et al. 2004; Valery et al. 2006).
Ongoing support for Aboriginal-led solutions in cancer control
The past two decades have seen continued efforts in the cancer sector to support Aboriginal-led decision-making in cancer control, from the first review into cancer and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in 2003 to the development of the next Australian Cancer Plan due to be published this year.
The Independent Directors and Senior Executive of the VCCC Alliance support a ‘Yes’ vote in Australia’s upcoming national referendum to alter the Constitution to establish an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament.
We celebrate and continue to support Aboriginal-led decision-making in cancer control. Despite considerable progress in improving national cancer outcomes, we are acutely aware the gap in cancer-related mortality between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous Australians is widening.
We believe that recognising self-determination and an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament will catalyse broader change that will contribute to improved cancer treatment, care, and outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
This position aligns with our members: WEHI, The University of Melbourne and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.
