Amgen forges ‘intentional’ partnership amid alarming data on First Nations health disparities

ESG: Amgen Australia has unveiled a new partnership with the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) and Katherine West Health Board, marking its commitment to implementing the company’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).

The announcement comes amid troubling new data on First Nations health disparities. The newly appointed Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, has called the latest Closing the Gap figures “deeply troubling” and is advocating for a “bipartisan approach” to address these issues.

Of the 19 targets set to close the gap, only five are currently on track. However, the situation is worsening in other critical areas, with increases in out-of-home care placements for children, developmental delays, incarceration rates, and suicides among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The partnership between Amgen and the First Nations organisations, initiated a year after Amgen’s Reflect RAP launch, involves sharing ‘Heart Stories’ from the Katherine West community in the Northern Territory. These stories, reflecting personal experiences with cardiovascular disease (CVD), will be disseminated through various channels to educate and motivate community members to engage with local health practitioners about their heart health.

Sinon Cooney, CEO of the Katherine West Health Board, emphasised the cultural significance of this project, stating, “Storytelling is at the heart of First Nations peoples’ culture and by sharing these compelling and deeply personal stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples living with CVD, we can enhance a deeper understanding and management of it within our community.

“We believe the Heart Stories project is one that can make a lasting impact and so are very grateful for Amgen’s support in bringing this initiative to life.”

Amgen’s focus on CVD stems from its long-standing commitment to this field and the fact that CVD is a major contributor to preventable illness and death among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations.

To celebrate the new partnership, Amgen staff convened at their Sydney head office, located on Gadigal Country. The event saw participation from key stakeholders including representatives from NACCHO, Katherine West Health Board, the United States Consul General in Sydney, the National Heart Foundation, Australian Cardiovascular Alliance, and Medicines Australia.

Dr Dawn Casey, Deputy CEO of NACCHO, stated “We greatly value this relationship with Amgen established more than 12 months ago, as we see this as a wonderful opportunity to support community-led initiatives like Heart Stories, which can drive real change.”

Gabi Mittas, Associate Vice President & Managing Director, Australia and New Zealand, remarked “When we embarked on our Reconciliation journey more than three years ago, we wanted to ensure that it was purposeful and that our business really worked to meet the needs of First Nations peoples.

“We also wanted it to be more than just changing policies and procedures and increasing cultural understanding among our staff. We were intentional in using our sphere of influence and core areas of focus as a business to actively work with a strategic and coordinated approach to assist in Closing the Gap.”

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