Des McKenzie

Des currently works for AMSANT which is a forum for community controlled health services in the Northern Territory. His work includes lobbying for positive changes to the health of Aboriginal people. He has had broad experience working on human rights issues particularly relating to health and safety in remote communities and access to government services. He believes the greatest opportunities for promoting human rights are through Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organizations such as Aboriginal Child Care Agencies and Women and Men’s Groups, Land Councils and through the some of the community controlled health services. Des sees one of the biggest difficulties in implementing and promoting human rights is getting the community to fully understand the extent to which human rights are being eroded by governments.