Close the Gap

A report prepared by the Lowitja Institute for the Close the Gap Steering Committee.

It is of great concern to us, the Close the Gap Campaign—as indeed it should be to the Australian nation—that the target to close the gap in life expectancy between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous people by 2031 is, in 2019, widening rather than closing.1 In his Closing the Gap Report 2019 to Parliament, the Prime Minister acknowledged that this target is not on track.

In the past, we have provided a ‘Shadow Report’ including a ten-year review published in 2018. The review assessed the most signi cant national e ort to date to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health—the 2008 Council of Australian Governments’ (COAG) Closing the Gap Strategy—with its target to achieve life expectancy equality by 2030.

In 2019, the Campaign is taking a di erent approach to its report. After identifying what we believe are urgent priority themes for addressing the health gap, this year we are highlighting stories that illustrate success from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives. The report addresses the following three priority themes:

• Targeted, needs-based primary health care
• Responsive health care system
• Good housing for good health.

The stories pro led in this report demonstrate that when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are involved in the design of the services they need, we are far more likely to achieve success. These stories illustrate that ‘our choice and our voice’ are vital if we are to make gains and start to close the gap.

The Campaign welcomes the announcement in December 2018 that governments will work in true partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and their appropriate organisations and representatives. This is a critical time for the government to work hand-in-hand with us on solutions, to ensure we turn this gap around and do not allow it to widen any further.

Finally, as Co-Chairs, we sincerely thank the almost 50 Close the Gap Campaign members for their contribution to this work. We could not do what we do without the enduring support and commitment to better health outcomes from our membership.

The Close the Gap Campaign media release following Prime Minister Morrison's 2019 Closing the Gap Report statement to Parliament.

"Indigenous involvement and participation in this important national strategy is vital. It really is the only way forward, because we know that when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are included in the design and delivery of services that impact their lives, the outcomes are far better."

Close the Gap Campaign Co-Chairs: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar AO and the Co-Chair of the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples Rod Little.

The Close the Gap Campaign has released its 2019 priorities for the next government of Australia.  The proposed policy agenda will, if fully funded and implemented, provide a pathway forward for an incoming government to achieve tangible improvements in life expectancy and other key health indicators.

Read more.

Petition available to use for National Close the Gap Day 2019.

Help gather supporter for this year's call to action. Send us back as many of these filled sheets as possible to Close the Gap Campaign, PO Box 77 Strawberry Hills NSW 2012

File size: Less than 1MB

Council of Australian Governments (COAG) statement outlining the outcomes of the most recent COAG meeting regarding the Closing the Gap Refresh process.

This review assesses the most significant national effort to date to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health: the 2008 Council of Australian Governments Closing the Gap Strategy with its target to achieve life expectancy equality by 2030.  Ten-years after its commencement it is time to critically analyse why Australian governments have not yet succeeded in closing the health gap.  

Close the Gap Campaign Steering Committee Progress and Priorities Report 2017