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The meaning behind the design

Artist: Toby Dodd, Dreamtime Public Relations, of Ngarrindjeri/Narungga/Kaurna descent.

Meaning: Health Direction.
The smaller outer dots represent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The larger dots represent NIHEC’s goals and targets. The direction of the arrow-like shape represents NIHEC advising the government on goals and targets to reduce the life-expectancy gap. The research and developments that NIHEC are doing is increasing the health and life expectancy rate, which appears as the smaller dots becoming larger.

The colours represent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; the red/yellow of the Aboriginal flag, and the blue/green of the Torres Strait Islander flag.

The Prime Minister, the Hon Kevin Rudd MP, Minister for Health and Ageing, the Hon Nicola Roxon MP, and Minister for Indigenous Affairs, the Hon Jenny Macklin MP, announced the establishment of the National Indigenous Health Equality Council (NIHEC) in March 2008. On 10 July 2008, Minister Roxon, announced membership of the Council, having regard for the members' extensive knowledge on Indigenous health issues. In 2009, the Hon Warren Snowdon MP was appointed Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health and Regional Services Delivery, which includes portfolio responsibility for NIHEC.

NIHEC provides national leadership in responding to the Australian Government’s commitment to closing the gap on Indigenous disadvantage by providing advice to Government on working towards the provision of equitable and sustainable health outcomes for Indigenous Australians. This includes assisting in the development of monitoring of progress towards a set of health-related goals and targets to support the Australian Government’s commitments on life expectancy and child mortality.

Page currency, Latest update: 09 February, 2010