A new Close the Gap Campaign Report 2024 launched today by the Australian Human Rights Commission.
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 Indigenous Australian men whose life expectancy is just 59.4 years.
According to the Human Rights Commission, the main causes of health inequality are a lack of timely access to primary healthcare services in First Nations communities. As a result, illnesses that could be prevented become chronic problems.
The Close the Gap campaign originated from the Statement of Intent signed by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in 2008. This followed a 2007 Council of Australian Governments meeting at which Australian governments committed to closing the life expectancy gap within a generation, and halving the mortality gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous children under 5-years of age.
Its goal is to close the health and life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians within a generation. It specifically calls on governments to:
- Commit to providing adequate and long-term financial resources to achieve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health equality.
- Invest in real partnerships, including increased Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation in health service delivery.
- Address critical social issues of housing, education and self-determination that contribute to the health crisis affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
To be successful, the Close the Gap campaign needs support from all corners of the Australian community.
The latest Guild Dispensary episode touches on some current cultural barriers in community pharmacy, and how one can help close the gap. Listen to the episode here.
How to get involved
- Understand more and get involved in the campaign
- Read the full 2024 report
- Host a Close the Gap day celebration
- Visit the campaign Instagram account: @close_the_gap_campaign and use the following hashtags: #ClosetheGap #ClosetheGapReport2024 #NationalCTGDay2024 #JourneyTogether
