In early March 2020 the Australian Government convened the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group on COVID-19 (the Taskforce) to develop and deliver a National Management Plan to protect communities and save lives.

The Taskforce is co-chaired by NACCHO and the Department of Health and includes leaders from NACCHO and their affiliates, Aboriginal Health Services, state and territory public health representatives, the Australian Indigenous Doctors Association and the National Indigenous Australian’s Agency (NIAA) as well as Public Health Medical Officers (PHMOs) and communicable disease experts.

The Taskforce has been engaging with stakeholders to ensure culturally safe and consistent advice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by developing the guiding principles, context, key issues and targeted action for planning, response and management for Coronavirus that can be found here.

The Australian Government’s Chief Medical Officer and state and territory Chief Medical Officers have agreed on the COVID-19 Response Plan to guide the health sector response within Australia. Any urgent enquiries can be directed to the Department of Health’s National Incident Room via health.ops@health.gov.au.