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17Section 3: Action for ChangeHow can the medical profession further contribute to Australia becoming ahealed nation? As a collective, we can promote understanding of themultiple determinants of Indigenous Health—the physical, psychological,social, cultural and spiritual aspects of wellbeing; ensure this understandinginforms clinical interactions as well as policy and resource allocation;advocate for and practise culturally appropriate health service provisionacross the care spectrum; encourage sectors such as housing, education andjustice to with the health sector to create reform; and advance anappreciation of the healing strength of reconnecting with family, culture andCountry (Mackean 2009:522).The final section of this report pulls together issues of recruitment, retention,support and curriculum, and makes recommendations as to how the CPMC canmeaningfully, and immediately, capitalise on the significant expertise of itsmembers, their goodwill and good intent, to contribute to improving the health andwellbeing of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. This section alsodraws upon and acknowledges the significant work already being done in this area.For example, the various college position statements on Indigenous health whichare included in the appendix.AdvocacyDevelopment of the advocacy role of the CPMC, in relation to Indigenous health,emerged as a theme from the interviews, alongside support for the work currentlybeing undertaken.… I’d like the college to be more engaged in, at a local level, of what otherpeople want, and then to try and bring better balance and partnerships. Usingtheir influence at the higher levels of policy. Dr David BrockmanClearly advocacy and policy component of a large college like the College ofPhysicians has a role and they've certainly attempted to do that around 'closethe gap' and … I think that's been helpful. Stronger policy advocating from TheCPMC is vital to close the gap. Dr Tamara MackeanMedical specialists have huge influence on governments and on policy and it'sthe kind of things that really all the specialist colleges should be jumping upand down about all the time ‐ it's just unacceptable standards, unacceptablestatistics. At the same time they should allow some of the Indigenous doctorsand specialists to take a lead on these things because you can becounterproductive if you don't do things strategically around advocacy. It'sreally important that advocacy is part of a structured plan and that it fits inwith where we need to go. So the advocacy stuff is important but probably notjust the colleges themselves probably something that's worked out withindigenous groups such as AIDA and others who can influence policy and giveyou good advice on how best to influence policy in the right way. Dr MarkWenitong