Closing the gap

Since 2005 the Closing the gap has campaign has grown in response to professor Tom Calma’s report which challenged governments to bring about health equality within a generation. National Close the Gap Day, is a day where we come together to raise awareness about the inequalities that exist between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the rest of Australia.

For far too long, our people have faced systemic barriers to health, education, employment, and housing, which have resulted in poorer health outcomes and lower life expectancy compared to non-Indigenous Australians. 

National Close the Gap Day serves as a reminder that we must continue to work towards closing these gaps to ensure that our people can lead healthy and fulfilling lives.

It is important to acknowledge that the Close the Gap campaign has been ongoing for nearly 2 decades, and progress has been slow. However, there have been some positive developments in recent years, such as the government’s commitment to work in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to implement the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

This agreement is a significant step towards improving the lives of our people and closing the gap in health, education, and employment outcomes.

As we acknowledge National Close the Gap Day, the campaign and work does not end here. We must continue to advocate for better health services, culturally appropriate education, and increased economic opportunities for our people. We must also continue to work towards reconciliation and healing between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

For me, National Close the Gap Day is also a reminder of the resilience and strength of our people. Despite the challenges we face, we continue to fight for our rights and work towards a better future for ourselves and future generations. 

It is a day where we come together as a nation and commit as either an organisation, a group or an individual to improving the heath and life expectancy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

National Close the Gap Day is an important day for all Australians to come together and recognize the inequalities that exist between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the rest of the country. As an Aboriginal man, I hope that this day will serve as a catalyst for continued advocacy and action towards closing the gap and ensuring that our people can thrive and prosper.