Closing the gap

Closing the gap is a government strategy that aims to reduce disadvantage among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with respect to life expectancy, child mortality, access to early childhood education, educational achievement, and employment outcomes.[1]

Health

Indigenous Australians living in poorer rural communities have to travel long distances to access hospitals or medical help; subsequently, compared to non-Indigenous Australians, they experience a lower standard of health, a shorter life expectancy and other statistically confirmed outcomes.[2] The extra cost of accessing health care has contributed to a growing life expectancy gap, as Australians living in cities have 24-hour access to doctors and nurses, while those living in rural areas are three times more likely to have shorter lives due to the lack of healthcare options.

According to a 2014 article in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, improvement to nutrition would help to close the gap.[3]

Effects of colonisation and social determinants of health

Major contributing factors to Aboriginal Australians lower life expectancy and poorer health outcomes originate from the effects of colonisation http://www.australianstogether.org.au/stories/detail/colonisation. Between one third and one half of the life expectancy gap may be explained by differences in the social determinants of health. They affect the health of people and can also influence how a person interacts with health and other services[4]. For example, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults are less likely to smoke if they have completed Year 12, are employed and if they have higher incomes[5]. Additionally, higher levels of education are associated with healthier lifestyle choices and improved health literacy.

Mitigation efforts

Many campaigns have been held by politicians in the Australian government to motivate people to work together to close the gap.[6] In 2008 Kevin Rudd and Health Minister Nicola Roxon signed a statement of intention to close the gap. This has been funded by the government to develop a long-term action plan targeted at health services to achieve health equality and life expectancy equality for Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders. As of 2017, these campaigns are still running, but showing signs of minimal approval among Indigenous Australians.[7]

In 2018, the ten year progress against the key areas of the framework indicated only three of the target areas were likely to be met[8] with ongoing concerns in areas such as education and school attendance[9] and health.[10][11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "What is Closing the Gap? « Health facts « Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet". www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au. Retrieved 2017-07-30.
  2. ↑ {AIHW 2015. The health and welfare of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples: 2015. Cat. no. IHW 147. Canberra: AIHW.}
  3. ↑ Browne, Jennifer; Hayes, Rick; Gleeson, Deborah (2014-08-01). "Aboriginal health policy: is nutrition the 'gap' in 'Closing the Gap'?". Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health. 38 (4): 362–369. doi:10.1111/1753-6405.12223. ISSN 1753-6405.
  4. ↑ Booth, A & Carroll, N 2005, The health status of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, Centre for Economic Policy Research, Australian National University, Canberra; DSI Consulting Pty Ltd & Benham, D 2009, An investigation of the effect of socio-economic factors on the Indigenous life expectancy gap, DSI Consulting Pty Ltd.
  5. ↑ Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council 2012, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework 2012, Canberra.
  6. ↑ "Close the Gap: Indigenous Health Campaign | Australian Human Rights Commission". www.humanrights.gov.au. Retrieved 2015-08-31.
  7. ↑ "National Close the gap day « Conferences, workshops and events « Key resources « Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet". www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au. Retrieved 2017-07-14.
  8. ↑ Closing the Gap: The Prime Ministers Report 2018 (PDF). Australian Government. 2018. ISBN 978-1-925363-13-5. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  9. ↑ Buckskin, Peter. "Closing the gap on Indigenous education must start with commitment and respect". The Conversation. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  10. ↑ Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association. "2018–19 Pre-Budget Submission to Treasury" (PDF). Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  11. ↑ "Close the Gap: Indigenous Health Campaign". www.humanrights.gov.au. 14 December 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
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