This year, Australians will have their say in a referendum to recognise First Nation Peoples in the Constitution by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. This Voice to Parliament for matters that affect First Nation Peoples, is one of the three core tenets of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, along with Treaty and Truth.

With the unanimous agreement of Indigenous members and trainees of the College, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG; the College) supports the proposed principles and objectives of the Uluru Statement which share common ground with our commitment to eliminating racism and challenges for First Nation Peoples accessing healthcare.

As a member-based organisation, RANZCOG values and respects the diversity of our members and understands there will be differing opinions on the referendum. We urge members to be well-informed with access to a trusted source of information, before making their decision.

RANZCOG considers the vote on the Voice critical to the ongoing health and wellbeing of First Nations Peoples and we support the Voice to Parliament.

You can find information about the Uluru Statement from the Heart here: https://ulurustatement.org/. You can find information about the The National Registration and Accreditation Scheme’s commitment to eliminating racism from healthcare and prioritising cultural safety in the Statement of Intent, National Scheme’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Cultural Safety Strategy 2020-2025, and recent legislative amendments.

Further information on the Voice can be found here: https://voice.gov.au/.