Reflecting on the Statement of the Heart for Health Professionals

This essay provides a critical reflection on the Statement of the Heart document, exploring its significance from the perspective of an emerging health professional. The essay delves into the core elements of the statement, including the First Nations Voice, the Makarrata commission, and the im...Read More

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Running Head: Statement of the Heart Document
Statement of the Heart Document
Name
Institutional Affiliation

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Statement of the Heart Document
STATEMENT OF THE HEART DOCUMENT
Introduction
The report of the heart document is considered to be a national indigenous consensus
position on the indigenous constitutional recognition, and this was brought about by the
constitutional convention that was made up of over two hundred and fifty Aboriginal and even
Torres Strait Islander delegates. The statement involved coming up with a First Nations Voice
that was included in the Australian constitution together with coming up with the Makarrata
commission that was charged with the responsibility of supervising the making of agreements
together with truth-telling which was to take place between the government and Aboriginal
together with the Torres Strait Islander individuals. The statement from the heart is considered to
be accumulative of the thirteen regional dialogues that are always held around the country. The
First Nations Voice is deemed to be a way of dealing with powerlessness, and this was in regards
to the indigenous advocates who had requested to be heard in the political decision making
concerning their rights and even interests (Council, 2017). The statement had gone ahead to seek
a constitutionally guaranteed voice which is essential, especially when it comes to offering
stability together with longevity.
Moreover, the first Nations Voice was set to have no Veto, and this shows that it will
encourage justice throughout the whole process. Furthermore, the Makarrata commission that is
to be created is set to monitor the whole process of agreement-making that is to occur between
the First Nations and the Federal and state government. The commission's primary goals include
the agreement making the process, and this will enable both the parties to meet and even to share
their stories of the past and come up with ideas on how they would work together in the future
under a strong partnership. Moreover, the other goal is to enhance truth-telling concerning

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Statement of the Heart Document
history (McKay, 2017). Furthermore, it offers a platform that allows experiences to be heard and
even articulated, and this is set to build a path that will enhance reconciliation. Closing the gap
document is considered to be a government strategy that is set to reduce the disadvantage that
exists among the Aboriginal and even the Torres Strait individuals whereby life expectancy,
access to early childhood education, achievements in education, and even child mortality were
considered. Moreover, the Australian governments took it upon themselves to come together as a
team in order to work together to ensure improved equality in health together with life
expectancy.
Body
What the content of the statement means to you as an emerging health professional
The statement from the heart is essential to me as an emerging health professional in
various ways including the voice to parliament element of the document which gives people a
say in the laws that could be affecting them in one way or another. Moreover, this will allow me
to air the challenges that the health sector may be facing and even offer advice to the parliament
on how best to run the healthcare sector to ensure every individual benefit. Furthermore, the laws
that would be passed can only be removed by a future constitutional referendum hence it offers
an opportunity to provide the healthcare rights are upheld and that the citizens benefit in the best
way possible (Appleby, 2017). Moreover, another crucial element that comes with the statement
from the heart is truth-telling. Furthermore, this is set to expose any kind of injustices that could
have been committed in the past, and this is set to help the Australian in understanding their
history and even to help them to reconcile genuinely. As an emerging health professional, I
appreciate the fact that telling the truth solves several issues that could have remained unsolved
if truth could not prevail. The patients need the truth concerning their conditions, and it is upon

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Statement of the Heart Document
me as a health professional to embrace the truth before I can go ahead to express an issue to a
patient or even the nation (Mayor, 2018).
Coming up with health policies will depend on how truthful the health professional is to
the government before deciding to set up systems that will aid the country. Moreover, the
Makarrata commission was to enable the Aboriginal to negotiate their treaty. Furthermore, they
were charged with the responsibility of overseeing the truth-telling process. Furthermore, as an
emerging health professional, it is upon me to monitor the various activities that are undertaken
in any health institution and be able to make correction in case of a mistake and to recommend
for the best action at a given point in time. Another crucial element from the stamen from the
heart is on the constitutional reform that greatly empowered the Aboriginal people to manage
their affairs. Moreover, as a health professional, I am charged with the responsibility to come up
with ideas that may be personal but with a significant intention of improving the current state in
the health sector. There is the freedom to invent something that could be of importance to the
health sector at a given point in time (Davis, 2018).
How the Statement of the Heart aligns (or not) with the Closing the Gap document
The statement of the heart majors on various elements that are considered similar to the
closing the gap document and they include constitutional reform that greatly empowered the
Aboriginal people to go ahead and even to manage their affairs, and this made reconciliation
easier for them with the government and this boosted cooperation among the various
governments. Moreover, truth-telling is another crucial element that significantly played a role in
reconciliation. The feature was essential in exposing the various past injustices that were being
faced by the Aboriginal people, and this offered clear information regarding the Australian and
the Aboriginal history, which brought about improved and genuine reconciliation. Moreover, this

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Statement of the Heart Document
marked the beginning of the urge to work together as a country (Johnson, 2018). Closing the gap
document was set to reconcile the Australian governments in order to achieve equality
considering health and even life expectancy and this was among the Torres Strait Islander people
and the Aboriginal along with the several non-indigenous Australians. Moreover, it became
evident that for the closing gap to succeed in the indigenous disadvantage, then there was a need
to the generational commitment and much effort was supposed to be directed towards priority
areas such as health, education, early childhood, safe communities, governance, and even
leadership.
According to the stamen from the heart, voice to parliament is another common element
which involved electing an individual to parliament in order to give the people a say concerning
the laws that affect them. Moreover, this has enabled passing of various laws that influence
people, and these laws have played a significant role among people. Furthermore, with the
execution of the stated areas, there is a great chance of growth and development in the state. The
health sector will be in a position to cater for the significant population in the best way possible
and that most people will benefit. Moreover, looking at the indigenous child mortality rates, it is
clear that it has dropped over the long term and this is estimated to be around thirty-five percent
which is a great achievement as far as the closing gap document is concerned. There has been a
rise in the total population of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students who have
succeeded for higher education, and this is an excellent show considering the reluctance that had
been there concerning education in the country. The children are in a position to access education
facilities, and they can work towards achieving their dreams in life (Davis, 2019). There are
several measures that are to be implemented to encourage the indigenous students to finish their
university education due to the several opportunities that the economy offers. The indigenous

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Statement of the Heart Document
businesses have been improving, and the government support has made it even better, and this
includes various measures that have been set aside and these involve the indigenous procurement
policy together with the indigenous Business sector strategy. The indigenous communities have
been actively involved when it comes to program development along with delivery, and this was
meant to build on partnership (Larkin, 2018).
Conclusion
In conclusion, the statement from the heart and the closing the gap document have clearly
shown how essential reconciliation and togetherness can be when it comes to the national
development, and this affects all the sectors in one way or another. Some of the benefits that
have been recorded include a collaborative working relationship that exists between the
government agencies and even the various relevant organizations. Moreover, there is also clear
leadership together with the governance of the various programs or even initiatives. Moreover, as
an emerging health professional, it is essential to see a collaborative government which greatly
signifies trust, and this greatly boosts the various sectors in government, and this leads to better
performance at the end of the day.
References
McKay, D. (2017). Uluru Statement: a quick guide. Law and Bills Digest Section, Parliament of
Australia: Canberra, Australia.
Council, R. (2017). Uluru statement from the heart. Viewed, 27, 2017-05.
Appleby, G., & McKinnon, G. (2017). Indigenous recognition: The uluru statement. LSJ: Law
Society of NSW Journal, (37), 36.

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Mayor, T. (2018). The torment of our powerlessness: The Uluru statement and enshrining a
voice for Indigenous peoples. Australian Options, (87), 7.
Davis, M. (2018). The long road to uluru: Walking together: Truth before justice. Griffith
REVIEW, (60), 13.
Appleby, G., & Davis, M. (2018). The Uluru Statement and the Promises of Truth. Australian
Historical Studies, 49(4), 501-509.
Johnson, C. (2018). AMA endorses' Uluru statement from the heart'. Australian Medicine, 30(9),
7.
Gordon, S. (2017). Indigenous Recognition: Turnbull Government's Rejection of Uluru
Statement from the Heart Indefensible. ABC News, 27.
Davis, M. (2019). Uluru Statement from the Heart:‘And Remind Them that we have Robbed
Them?’. From Turnbull to Morrison: Understanding the Trust Divide, 20.
Larkin, D., & Galloway, K. (2018). Uluru Statement from the Heart: Australian Public Law
Pluralism. Bond Law Review, 30, 335.