The Mental Health Community Coalition ACT supports a First Nations Voice enshrined in the constitution

The Mental Health Community Coalition ACT supports the call of the Uluru Statement from the Heart for a First Nations Voice enshrined in the constitution.

The Mental Health Community Coalition ACT supports the call of the Uluru Statement from the Heart for a First Nations Voice enshrined in the constitution.

We recognise that, since colonisation, First Nations peoples have been frequently excluded from meaningful participation in the political decision-making process. The Indigenous Voice to Parliament would provide a platform for First Nations Peoples to have a say in the policies and laws that affect their lives. Enshrining the Voice in the Constitution provides recognition of the unique and sovereign place Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people hold in Australia’s history, and gives the Voice legitimacy, stability, and permanency.

We recognise that the establishment of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament is just one step in a larger journey towards reconciliation, and that alongside Treaty and Truth there must be meaningful action and ongoing efforts to address the systemic issues that continue to impact First Nations peoples.

We recognise there are a diversity of views among the Australian community about the Voice proposal, and urge everyone to engage in the debate and discussions with the care and respect this issue deserves. Calm, constructive, and compassionate dialogue – as the authors of the Uluru Statement of the Heart demonstrate – is critical to building a society that respects equally that which distinguishes us, and that which unites us. 

Media contact: Rahni Orr Deas 0493 388 756 | communications@mhccact.org.au

MHCC ACT is the peak body for community-managed mental health services in the ACT. Find out more about MHCC ACT at www.mhccact.org.au.