NACCHO Annual Report 2014

Chairperson ReportAt the 2014 NACCHO Health Summit in Melbourne in Junewe asked members to sum up in one or two words whatAboriginal Community Controlled Health meant to them, andto write it on their hand with a black marker pen for our wrapup video.What we thought would be a fun way to represent the notionof Aboriginal health in Aboriginal hands, resulted in anamazing testament to the diversity and passion of our sector.Words such as empowerment, partnership, education, healing,healthy futures, ownership, equity, people power, customsand traditions, holistic approach and self-determination, toname just a few, paint a powerful picture of the great work wedo together in our communities across Australia.Justin MohamedWatching these words appear one after another across thescreen, written on the hands of our members and supporters,serves as an incredible and timely reminder of the commitment of our 150 members services at a timeof political and policy uncertainty at the Federal level.At our last AGM we reported on a bumper year for NACCHO as we intensified our efforts to ensure wewere well positioned as we headed into the 2013 Federal election.Certainly our work over the past two years has increased our profile publicly, and within governmentand political circles, and provided the solid evidence needed to back up our case for ongoingcommitment and investment in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services.Our address to the National Press Club just before the Budget this year provided another opportunityfor us to deliver the message that investing in our services makes good economic sense.Launching NACCHO’s, The Economic Value of Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services reportat the Press Club, illustrating the broader economic benefits of ACCHSs in jobs creation and education,was a great platform for NACCHO to continue the momentum from the previous year and prove whatwe all know – ACCHSs deliver.The effect of the national media coverage and ensuing political capital achieved from this prestigiousevent cannot be underestimated in the climate we now find ourselves in post-Federal Budget.All this groundwork has meant we have had extraordinary access to newly elected GovernmentMinisters and advisors – access that many other peak organisations have not been able to get.Politicians of all political parties took up our invitation to hear from the NACCHO Board at the March2014 Board Meeting in Canberra. Attendees included Health Minister Peter Dutton, Assistant Ministerfor Indigenous Health Fiona Nash, Minister for Indigenous Affairs Senator Nigel Scullion, ShayneNeumann MP, Warren Snowdon MP, Senator Nova Peris, Senator Rachel Seiwert, Senator Penny Wrightand Sharmon Stone MP in attendance.In June, Senator Fiona Nash took leave from Parliament to speak at the NACCHO 2014 Health Summitin Melbourne.These are strong indications that NACCHO and its member services are well thought of by those inpositions of power at the highest levels of Government.4NACCHO Annual Report 2014 internal.indd 45/11/14 11:16 AM