National Close the Gap Day 2010
Campaigning for Indigenous health equality – Let’s get it right!
Kadessa Grondman, 10 years old from Mornington Island. Photo: Lara McKinley/OxfamAUS
[It was a] great event that allowed staff to broaden their knowledge of Indigenous health issues.
– Claire, event organiser
Thank you to everyone who participated in National Close the Gap Day on 25 March. Thousands of people around Australia came together to hold events and raise awareness of the Indigenous health crisis.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples are still dying 10 to 17 years younger than other Australians. For that reason, more than 40 national organisations came together in 2006 to form Close the Gap - Australia's largest ever campaign to improve the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Since then, the Close the Gap Campaign has come a long way.
Watch the video
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made the National Apology to Indigenous Australia in which he pledged to Close the Gap on Indigenous health inequality. Both the Government and Opposition signed the historic Statement of Intent in which they committed to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to Close the Gap by 2030. We’ve also seen new funding to improve Indigenous health.
These outcomes have been possible through the work of a growing number organisations and the support of more than 135,000 Australians.
It has helped me to feel part of a wide movement and that we are ‘doing our bit’ – it all adds up to making a difference to closing the gap.
– Joseph, Close the Gap day attendee
The campaign to end the Indigenous health crisis is at a critical point. National Close the gap Day showed that the Australian community care deeply about this issue.
Learn more
Find out more about the Close the Gap campaign
For useful teaching resources to help students understand human rights issues – including Indigenous rights – visit the Australian Human Rights Commission's rightsED website.
