What is Closing the Gap?

Australia has one of the highest life expectancies in the world. On average, Australians live to see their 83rd birthday. But for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, life expectancy is about eight years less. Closing the Gap is a national agreement designed to change that. By improving the health and wellbeing of First Nations, they can enjoy the same quality of life and opportunities as non-Indigenous Australians

Indigenous Australian family. Closing the Gap was launched in 2008 to address health and life expectancy inequalities faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Source: Moment Credit: RF / Attila Csaszar/Getty Images

Key Points

• Closing the Gap was launched in 2008 to address health and life expectancy inequalities faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• In 2020 the strategy was reformed so that decision making is shared with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
• Progress has been mixed, with five targets on track but areas such as incarceration and suicide rates worsening.
• Only five out of 19 targets are currently on track.

Read more:

https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/en/podcast-episode/what-is-closing-the-gap/qa7di8u3l