17 09 2007

Close the Gap is Australia’s largest campaign to improve Indigenous health

Posted by: isiria, in holistic ethics, social injustice, struggle for change, unsustainability, various health

Supported by more than 40 Indigenous and non-Indigenous organisations, including Oxfam Australia, the campaign calls on federal, state and territory governments to commit to closing the life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians within a generation.

A national scandal

It’s hard to believe but impossible to deny that Indigenous Australians live nearly 20 years less than other Australians. In 21st century Australia this is plainly unacceptable.

While most women in Australia can expect to live to an average age of 82 years, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women can expect to live to only 64.8 years. The situation is even worse for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men whose life expectancy is only 59.4 years.

We should not accept that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders end up in hospitals at twice the rate of other Australians. Nor is it fair that while most Australians can look forward to long healthy lives with access to some of the best healthcare facilities in the world, Indigenous Australians can expect to die at much higher rates of heart disease, cancer, and kidney failure, to name a few diseases.

It’s sad but true that Indigenous Australians have not shared in the health gains enjoyed by other Australians over the last twenty years. Yet it is inconceivable that a country as wealthy as Australia cannot solve a health crisis affecting less then three per cent of its population.

Closing the gap

The Close the Gap campaign is calling on Australian governments to take action to achieve health equality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders within 25 years through

Increasing Indigenous Australians’ access to health services
Addressing critical social issues such as poor housing, nutrition and education
Building Indigenous control and participation in the delivery of health and other services

There is no quick fix but with a long-term commitment to work with Indigenous communities we can bring about change! You can help bring about change:

National Close the Gap Day

National Close the Gap Day - Tuesday 18 September 2007 - will give Australians across the nation the opportunity to come together and show their support for closing the 17-year life expectancy gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and other Australians. Why not organise your own small-scale event with our help? You can also get involved in other ways.