A decade after the Close the Gap campaign began, political leaders are being urged to make indigenous health a “major” priority.
More than 190,000 Australians are expected to take part in more than 1500 events across the country on national Close the Gap day on Thursday.
Oxfam Australia says the “tremendous” response by participants – including 320 schools and 240 ambulance stations – shows Australians from all walks of life are coming together in solidarity with the nation’s indigenous population.
But Oxfam’s Justin McCaul says political parties must make indigenous health and wellbeing a priority at the next federal election.
‘We need state, territory and federal governments to take real, measurable action,’ he said.
The charity wants a national plan for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.
The national day follows the latest closing the gap report, released in February, which showed only two of seven targets set by governments were on track.
The target to close the life expectancy gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians within a generation is not being met.
Indigenous cancer mortality rates are rising and the life expectancy gap is widening.
However, the target to halve the gap in child mortality rates by 2018 is on track, with rates falling six per cent since 2008.
