Dr Tom Calma & Mick Gooda

thumbnail

Co-chairs of the Close the Gap Campaign for Indigenous Health Equality

March 10, 2011

How far have we come in our efforts to Close the Gap in Indigenous life expectancy Five years in the life of the Close the Gap Campaign

thumbnail  thumbnail  
Mick Gooda     Dr Tom Calma

How far have we come in our efforts to 'close the gap' in Indigenous life expectancy, and what's needed to close the gap by 2030?

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Mick Gooda, and  National Coordinator Tackling Indigenous Smoking, Dr Tom Calma, are Co-chairs of the Close the Gap Campaign for Indigenous Health Equality. They will  answer this question at the National Press Club on Thursday, 10 March 2011.

The Close the Gap Campaign has been an unprecedented 'movement' in the Indigenous health sphere and has played a direct role in bringing the Australian community together on the issue of making Indigenous health and improved life expectancy a national concern. It has also been extremely effective in bringing influence to bear on governments around the country to address Indigenous health equality with a unprecedented focus and unparalleled resource commitments. On 10 March, the campaign celebrates its fifth anniversary.

As previous Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Dr Calma first called for a national effort to achieve health equality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within 25 years. It was this call that spearheaded the campaign.

Dr Calma's address will highlight the five-years of progress towards achieving Indigenous health equality catalysed by the Close the Gap Campaign.
Commissioner Gooda will shine the light on what is needed to ensure the campaign remains on target to close the gap in life expectancy within a generation. This includes putting in place targets and adequate resources to address health inequalities, including providing equal access to primary health care for Indigenous Australians within 10 years.

This NPC address represents an important time to reflect and acknowledge the substantial successes of the campaign to date as well setting directions for the future.