Tuesday, 8 September 2026

 Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ambulance Services, Special Minister of State) (12:16): Last week I joined Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders from across the country for a roundtable discussion on health and wellbeing alongside other Commonwealth and state and territory health ministers. We know that listening to Aboriginal communities and ensuring their voices shape the way we deliver health services is essential to building a system that is culturally safe, accessible and responsive. That is why I was pleased last week to join Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation to launch the next Victorian Aboriginal health and wellbeing partnership agreement action plan. The agreement reflects an important partnership between the Victorian government, the Aboriginal community controlled health sector and the broader health system, with a shared focus on improving health and wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal people. Designed to complement and not pre-empt or constrain our ongoing treaty process, the next action plan supports a stronger role for the Aboriginal community controlled sector in informing and shaping health system reform consistent with the principles of self-determination. It promotes a stronger focus on prevention and early intervention alongside culturally safe approaches to care to improve long-term outcomes, and it supports coordinated action across portfolios. It highlights our whole-of-government approach to improving health and wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal Victorians. I want to take the opportunity to thank VACCHO and Aunty Jill Gallagher for their leadership and sharing their expertise and priorities for Victoria at the round table last week, and I am looking forward to celebrating 30 years of progress with them at Parliament later this week. There is important work still to do, and we are committed to listening and working in partnership with the community.