The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine mourns the passing of Gumatj leader Yunupingu, a defender of his Yolŋu people and for Aboriginal people throughout Australia.
As an advocate for reconciliation, pioneer of the Land Rights movement and Aboriginal rights, broadly, he was a voice for his people. His list of achievements include Australian of the Year (1978), Member of the Order of Australia (AM) (1985), Named as one of Australia’s National Living Treasures (1998), Honorary Doctorate of Law (LL.D) University of Melbourne (2015), and appointed to the Senior Advisory Group on the Voice to Parliament in 2019. His biography demonstrates the impact he made throughout his life.
Sadly, access to safe healthcare remains a fundamental human right that many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples do not have in their communities.
ACRRM is committed to strengthening our partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations so that we can build on the strong foundations that Yunupingu and other community leaders across Australia have established.
We understand there is much more work to do in order to achieve our vision for reconciliation, which is equity of access to high-quality, culturally safe and appropriate healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples throughout Australia.
The College’s Reconciliation Action Plan confirms our commitment and guides our ongoing reconciliation journey.
We pass on our condolences to the family of the late Yunupingu and to his peoples.
As an advocate for reconciliation, pioneer of the Land Rights movement and Aboriginal rights, broadly, he was a voice for his people. His list of achievements include Australian of the Year (1978), Member of the Order of Australia (AM) (1985), Named as one of Australia’s National Living Treasures (1998), Honorary Doctorate of Law (LL.D) University of Melbourne (2015), and appointed to the Senior Advisory Group on the Voice to Parliament in 2019. His biography demonstrates the impact he made throughout his life.
Sadly, access to safe healthcare remains a fundamental human right that many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples do not have in their communities.
ACRRM is committed to strengthening our partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations so that we can build on the strong foundations that Yunupingu and other community leaders across Australia have established.
We understand there is much more work to do in order to achieve our vision for reconciliation, which is equity of access to high-quality, culturally safe and appropriate healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples throughout Australia.
The College’s Reconciliation Action Plan confirms our commitment and guides our ongoing reconciliation journey.
We pass on our condolences to the family of the late Yunupingu and to his peoples.