Welcome
to the NIHLA
Leading Aboriginal & Torres
Strait Islander healthcare.
About the NIHLA
The National Health Leadership Forum is a partnership of 15 national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health organisations. We have expertise across health, aged care and disability policy, service delivery, workforce, research, healing, mental health and social and emotional wellbeing. Our purpose is to drive systemic and structural transformation of mainstream government systems. We draw strength from cultural integrity, the evidence base and community.
The social determinants and cultural determinants of health are the foundations to the work of the NIHLA, as they along with justice and climate impact on health and well-being. Health is a noted human right, it is an underpinning to everyday life, and key factor in economic and environmental sustainability.
The NIHLA was instrumental in the formation of the community-led Close the Gap Campaign and continues to lead the Campaign as part of the Indigenous Leadership Group along with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner and NACCHO.
The NIHLA provides advice and direction to the Australian governments on the development and implementation of informed policy and program objectives, to contribute to improved and equitable health and life outcomes, and the cultural well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Our Vision
Our vision is for the Australian health system to be free of racism and with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people leading and determining their own solutions that are culturally informed and governed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities. This Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander way of working can improve access to culturally safe and responsive health care services that are effective, high quality, appropriate and affordable.
No matter where we live, or who we are, every Australian should have access to a health system free of racism providing good culturally informed health care. Better health, Better and Longer lives for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Our Purpose
Collectively represent a united voice on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing with expertise across service delivery, workforce, research, healing and mental health and social and emotional wellbeing.
Provide the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health leadership on the Close the Gap Campaign Steering Committee (CtG SC).
Operate as a partnership mechanism to hold governments to account in the identification, development, implementation and monitoring of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health policy and programs.
Seek genuine engagement with the Australian governments, and relevant non-government stakeholders as this adds significant value to decision-making and to shaping policy and program design in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and well-being outcomes.
Operate as a partnership mechanism to engage and work with communities and agencies in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health policy and health and well-being outcomes.
Foster multi-party commitments on culturally informed and safe approaches to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services and programs.
Our Guiding Principles
The NIHLA, in all its work and deliberations as senior Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health leaders, is guided by the following principles:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander concepts of health and concepts of wellbeing and mental health;
- Informed, connected and representative;
- Empowerment and self-determination (nation building);
- Provide strategic advice, leadership and Indigenous knowledge from a strength-based position;
- Unity whilst recognising autonomy;
- Mutual regard and respect for each other’s unique contributions by valuing diversity;
- Cultural safety;
- Continuous quality improvement, best practice and evidence-based; and
- Transparent, open and willing to share information.
History of the NIHLA
The Close the Gap Campaign was initiated and led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander member organisations on the then Campaign’s Steering Committee. The Close the Gap Campaign Steering Committee held its first meeting in March 2006.
This leadership group was the precursor for the establishment of the National Health Leadership Forum (NIHLA) in August 2011.
The Australian Human Rights Commission provided the secretariat support for the Close the Gap Campaign and the NIHLA. The funding for the secretariat was provided by the Commonwealth Department of Health.
In 2019, the secretariat support for the NIHLA separated from the Australian Human Rights Commission with funding from the Department of Health provided to one of the incorporated members of the NIHLA. Indigenous Allied Health Australia is the current host of the secretariat.
The NIHLA led the development of the 2013-2023 and the 2021-2031 National Aboriginal and Torre Strait Islander Health Plan, as well as the 2021-2031 National Aboriginal and Torre Strait Islander Health Workforce Strategic Framework and Implementation Plan.
The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2021-2031 aims to drive holistic cultural determinants and social determinants approaches to First Nations health and wellbeing. The Health Plan takes an intersectional and rights-based approach to health equity and access for all First Nations peoples.
A key health and wellbeing focus of the Health Plan is the implementation of prioritising access to person and family-centred care. This means more than recognising the multiple backgrounds, experiences and ways First Nations peoples identify. The way people identify, or live impact people’s health and wellbeing needs and ability to access care. Delivery effective, efficient, and safe health care means that the health system and its workforce must understand and cater for the experiences and connection to Country of people living across urban, regional, rural and remote locations, and for:
- people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans/transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, sistergirl and brotherboy (LGBTQIA+SB)
- people living with mental illness
- people who are incarcerated
- people experiencing homelessness.
- people with disability
- speakers of First Nations languages
- Stolen Generations survivors
- young people
- children in care
- older people.
The NIHLA will continue its work to push for a genuine partnership in health with government to provide strategic policy direction and drive a strengths-based and cross-cutting approach to holistic First Nations’ health, social and emotional wellbeing policy.
In addition to being part of the Indigenous leadership group for the Close the Gap Campaign, members are also part of the Coalition of Peaks. The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) was a foundational member of the NIHLA, but in 2021 withdrew from the NIHLA due to their leadership role in the Coalition of Peaks and within the Partnership with Australian governments that oversees the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
The NIHLA Chair position is currently held by the National Association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander Health Workforce and Practitioners (Sept 2023-2025).
