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

Indigenous
Indigenous Women
Women

Indigenous
Indigenous Men
Men

60

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