Yesterday was National Close the Gap Day (20^th March). Closing the Gap is about ensuring life opportunities and outcomes for First Nations people in Australia become equal to those of non-Indigenous Australians. For more than a decade now, Australians from every corner of the country, in schools, businesses and community groups, have shown their support for Close the Gap by marking National Close the Gap Day on the third Thursday in March each year.

Why is closing the gap so important?

For the most part, Australians have the privilege of experiencing one of the highest life expectancies of any country in the world. However, this is not the case for many minority groups including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, who can on average expect to live up to eight years fewer than non-Indigenous Australians. This is due to the reality that First Nations people in Australia experience higher rates of preventable illnesses such as heart disease, kidney disease and diabetes, socio-economic disadvantages such as access to safe and affordable housing, racism, disproportionate rates of incarceration, and impacted life outcomes overall as a result.

Below are some resources you could look at:

National Agreement: National Agreement on Closing the Gap

Implementation tracker (are we up to date?): Implementation Tracker | Closing the Gap 

BTN Video: 21seconds –2:18minutes What is Close the Gap? Closing the Gap Day + Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Life Expectancy