CLOSE THE
GAP
In Australia
there are over
510,000
Indigenous
people
making up
2.5% of the
total
Australian
population
Some live on the
beautiful Torres Strait
Islands, others live in
remote communities,
country towns or
urban cities
Together we share a common humanity
We are all created equally
But our opportunities in life and our levels
of disadvantage vary greatly
Today
One of us is
expected to live 17
years longer than
the other
One of us is 10 times more likely to be
diagnosed with kidney disease
One of us is 3 times more
likely to have diabetes
One of us is
Indigenous and one is
not
Today
A huge gap exists between the life expectancy
and health of those who are Indigenous and
those who are not.
Life Expectancy Gap= 17 years
Men
Indigenous
Indigenous Men
60
Women
Indigenous
Indigenous Women
65
Non-Indigenous Men
77
Non-Indigenous Women
82
Life expectancy rate for Indigenous Australians are alarmingly
similar to those in a number of developing countries
Cambodia
Bangladesh
Country







Cambodia
Bangladesh and Pakistan
Indigenous Australia
Bolivia and Bhutan
India
Indonesia
Vietnam, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu
Indigenous Aust.
Average Life
Expectancy
58
61
62
63
64
67
69
But such a gap has no place in our society
It cannot be tolerated
We cannot look away
We have to care
We have to ask why
Why is there a gap?
The reasons are complex.
Social, economic and physical factors all play a role.
Dispossession
Dislocation
Poor and overcrowded housing
Unemployment
Discrimination
Poor diet and nutrition
Limited access to health care services
(3 times the rate for
non-Indigenous people )
Lack of education (In
Low income
(Indigenous Australians earn just 62%
of the income of non-Indigenous people).
2006, 21 % of 15 year old
Indigenous people were not
participating in school
education)
These all lead to the Gap
For many
Torres Strait
Islander and
Aboriginal
peoples
the odds are
stacked
against them
How can we Close the Gap?
We have the resources and knowledge to close the gap
Equality
Empowerment
Services and resources
Opportunities
Education and training
Recognition and respect
Working in partnership
In the remote Kimberley region
of
Western Australia,
Caritas Australia
is working with the Diabetes
Management Program on the
prevention,
management,
treatment
and care of diabetes
Success is being achieved through
Cooking classes using local and traditional foods
Parental
Involvement
Diabetes
education
School fitness
and health
programs
Training of
community
leaders to run
Provision of
healthy
breakfasts
the program
Nutrition education
Shops are clearly identifying healthy
food with coloured stickers
The local people are taking control of their own health.
Diabetes in these communities is decreasing!
Together we are making a difference
promoting a change in lifestyle behaviours and health to
Close the Gap
Together, we are moving forward
But
We can do more …. we need help.
Prime Minister Mr. Kevin Rudd has promised to close the
17-year life expectancy gap between indigenous and
non-indigenous Australians by 2030.
He has promised that Indigenous people will get health services
equal to those of the rest of the population within 10 years.
Now we need to ensure that the
government keeps its promise.
What is the Close the Gap Campaign?
The Close the Gap campaign is calling on Australian
governments to take action to achieve health equality for
Indigenous Australians within 25 years by:
A long-term investment in Indigenous health;
investment in financial and human resources
Increasing Indigenous control and participation in the delivery of health
services to ensure that people are active partners in their own health
Addressing critical social issues such as housing, education
and self-determination which contribute to the Indigenous health crisis
What can you do to Close the Gap?
Take the 30 for 2030 challenge –
Get 30 friends, family, neighbours to
sign a Close the Gap pledge.
Challenge you classmates to get
involved too!!
Sign the Close the Gap pledge
www.oxfam.org.au/closethegap
Join the
Facebook Close the Gap group
and post relevant news
on the Wall
facebook.com/closethegapcampaign
CLOSE THE
GAP