During National Reconciliation Week (27 May-3 June), the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) is throwing its full support behind the ‘Yes’ vote for an enshrined First Nations Voice to Parliament.

ANMF Federal Secretary Annie Butler said the union’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,” Ms 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 theme for National Reconciliation Week 2023, Be a Voice for Generations, encourages all Australians to be a voice for reconciliation in tangible ways in our everyday lives – where we live, work and socialise.

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, set to take place later this year.

It encourages all Australians to learn about what is proposed in this Referendum and to reflect upon the impacts of racism in our society.