April 1, 2023 

 

Close The Gap Campaign

The poorer health of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples when compared to the non-Indigenous population is no secret – and something can be done about it. Since 2006, Australia's peak Indigenous and non-Indigenous health bodies and Regional Consorituims such as Bila Muuji,  NGOs and human rights organisations have worked together to achieve health and life expectation equality for Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This is known as the Close the Gap Campaign.

The campaign's goal is to close the health and life expectancy gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians within a generation. The campaign is built on evidence that shows that significant improvements in the health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples can be achieved within short time frames.

By joining our efforts we can make sure that by 2030 any Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child born in this country has the same opportunity as other Australian children to live a long, healthy and happy life.

Close the Gap campaign is about improving indigenous health and to achieve health equality for Indigenous Australians within 25 years. The Indigenous life expectation is 17 years lower than other Australians; infant mortality is three times higher; and death rates for Indigenous Australians are twice as high across all age groups*.

The campaign calls on the Australian Government to:

• Develop a comprehensive National Action Plan with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their representative bodies
• Increase Indigenous community participation and control in the delivery of health services
• Address the critical social issues of housing, education and self-determination

The Closing the Gap Prime Ministers Report 2017 http://closingthegap.pmc.gov.au/