Together we can end the Indigenous health crisis
In the Social Justice Report 2005, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Tom Calma, called for Australian governments to commit to achieving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and life expectation equality within 25-years. From the Social Justice Report, the Close The Gap campaign was born.
The Close The Gap 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.
The campaign is supported by more than 40 Indigenous and non-Indigenous organisations, and seventy-five thousand Australians have already pledged their support to Close the Gap.Budget 2008 - what the Close The Gap coalition thinks
Good start in budget, but more needed to Close The Gap: The Close the Gap coalition today welcomed Budget measures aimed at closing the life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Read more ...
About the campaign
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have a life expectancy 17 years less than other Australians. Yet this is a situation that can be changed. Many successful community run health programs are making a difference: the Townsville Mums and Babies Program has increased child birth weights and cut the perinatal death rate by half. And Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander controlled health services have some of the highest vaccination rates in the country.
There is no quick fix but with a long-term commitment to work with Indigenous communities we can bring about change.
Help us by taking action today.