The issue of “equal health” for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples involves a broad range of social determinants, in addition to physical health. The formation of an Australian college of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health would allow a continuing authoritative conference of broad expert opinion, including that of Aboriginal health workers, to address health and social inequality.
The substantial continuing health and social inequalities faced by Indigenous Australians are increasingly well recognised and documented.1 The broad sociocultural influence on serious Indigenous health issues, such as diabetes and rheumatic heart disease, is also well recognised; poverty, lack of cultural security and a paucity of appropriate staff within health services for Indigenous people are evident contributors.
