“St Vincent de Paul Society has a long history of both assisting and advocating on behalf of First Nations Australians,” said the Society’s president, Mark Gaetani. Mark also made the following points in summary:
- Urgency of Equality for First Nations People: The St Vincent de Paul Society emphasizes the critical need for First Nations people to achieve equality, citing failures in Closing the Gap targets and the goals of the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
- St Vincent de Paul Society's Role: The Society has a long history of assisting and advocating for First Nations Australians.
- Disproportionate Assistance: A large number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people require the Society’s help with essentials such as food, accommodation, and other support.
- In the Northern Territory, this assistance can exceed 90% of those seeking help.
- In many rural and regional areas, over 50% of those seeking help are First Nations people.
- Impacts of Discrimination: First Nations people are falling behind due to the inter-generational impacts of discrimination and social and economic exclusion.
- Premature Death and Self-Harm: There are alarming rates of premature deaths and high levels of suicides and self-harming among First Nations people.
- Early Childhood Development and Incarceration: Early childhood development is significantly below the national average, and incarceration rates for both adults and juveniles are exceedingly high.
- Federal Budget Allocation: The recent Federal Budget includes $2.4 billion over five years for the Closing the Gap Implementation Plan and a $4 billion partnership with the NT Government to address housing conditions and overcrowding.
- Call for Decisive Action: Despite the funding, the Closing the Gap data indicates deeper and larger-scale problems, necessitating more urgent and decisive action.
- Government Commitment Needed: The Society calls on all governments to properly fund and commit to achieving the Closing the Gap targets.
- Invitation from the Uluru Statement: The Uluru Statement invites all Australians to walk together towards a better future.
For more details on this pressing issue, read the full story and the opportunity to donate on the St Vincent de Paul Society's website here.
