Subject:
Access to health services for Aboriginal people in the North of Canberra.
Eligibility:
Residents of ACT
Sponsoring member:
Mr Shane Rattenbury
No. of Signatures:
13
Posting Date:
20/10/2025
Closing Date:
17/4/2026
Information about the Principal Petitioner is available through the sponsoring Member of the Legislative Assembly's office
TO: The Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly
Reason for this Petition
The following residents of the ACT draw the attention of the Assembly that: the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is failing its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents with lack of investment in access to health care services.
The ACT consistently records some of the lowest rates of access to health services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People in Australia:
- Access to the General Aboriginal Annual Health Assessment (MBS 715) in the ACT is consistently lower than any other jurisdiction in Australia except Victoria. In 2024/25 access rate was under 17%, compared with 26% national (DSS Medicare data).
- Most Aboriginal people in the ACT didn’t access a single general health check in 5 years (AIHW, Health checks and follow-ups for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, 2025).
- Rates are particularly low for children and young people (approximately 10% for ages 0-24), (analysis of Medical Cost Finder data, 2025).
- In addition to persistently low rates of access to health checks in General Practice, the ACT has some of the highest costs of private specialist care in Australia (analysis of Medical Cost Finder data, 2025). The ACT is currently not on track to deliver on its commitment that: “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have equity in health and wellbeing outcomes as any other members of the community” (ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Agreement 2019-2028).
Requested Actions
Your petitioners, therefore, request the Assembly to call on the ACT Government to:
- Allocate appropriate funding for the right services when needed: we request that the Territory support existing Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services directly to ensure that appropriate access to primary health care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People in the ACT is strengthened to address the current urgent need and for long-term sustainability and growth to meet growing population needs.
- Ensures that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People in the ACT have appropriate pathways to specialist care required to ensure equity in health and wellbeing outcomes
- Ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who live in the North of Canberra or who would like to access Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services in the North of Canberra can do so locally.