As an organisation which supports services for First Nations, we know that the community continues to experience:

• the lowest rates of home ownership and worst rates of homelessness
• the poorest health and life expectancy
• the worst rates of problem gambling and drug dependence; and
• the world’s highest incarceration rates.

Treaty is an important step towards self-determination for First Nations. First Nations communities know best that:

• Creating local solutions will change lives. Treaty will bring about real, meaningful change for Aboriginal Victorians and improve their health and wellbeing. 
• Treaty is an opportunity for diverse voices to collectively build a more inclusive State where all Victorians can thrive.

As a First Nations ally, SEMPHN strongly supports the Victorian Treaty negotiations, as we did the Voice to Parliament in 2023. We stand with the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO), the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria and others in urging Victorian Members of Parliament to reaffirm the original bipartisan commitment to Treaty.

Written by SEMPHN Clinical and Community Council First Nations’ members, Dr Luke Martin and Brenda McDermott, on behalf of SEMPHN.