Urban Health

Indigenous invisibility 

Urban Aboriginal populations may be overlooked because of the false assumption that Indigenous communities belong only in remote areas 

• This misconception misdirects policies and services 

• Uban communities also experience discrimination, segregation and barriers to employment 

• Disrupted connections to communities of origin can affect cultural transmission, identity and wellbeing 

Urban Social Determinants 

• Housing: high costs, overcrowding, poor housing standards and housing insecurity can reinforce poverty 

• Education: discrimination, language bias and ethnocentric curricula can affect employment 

• Health: Urban Aboriginal people may have better average outcomes than remote populations, yet inequalities remain compared with non urban populations like chronic disease 

Population and Historical Context 

• Urban Indigenous populations are significant and diverse so planning must reflect their actual distribution and needs 

• Contemporary Indigenous culture is encouraged 

National Agreement 

Aboriginal peoples and governments work together to overcome inequalities and achieve equitable life outcomes 

• Developed in partnership with the Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations (Coalition of Peaks) 

National Agreement - 4 priority reforms

1. Formal partnerships and shared decision-making 

2. Build the community-controlled sector 

3. Transform government organisations 

4. Share access to regional data and info