Commitment needed over a generation

National Close the Gap Day 2014 is a key way your organisation can make a real difference to ensuring ongoing support by government to Indigenous health equality.

We would like you to get involved in National Close the Gap Day this year and help us keep Indigenous health equality and the need for action, on the agenda:

Registrations for National Close the Gap Day 2014 are open right now.

It is crucial that we maintain the public and political momentum needed to ensure that we continue the long-term change needed to Close the Gap.

Darren Mercy and daughter Avril. Photo: Jason Malouin/OxfamAUS

Please take a moment to register an event for national Close the Gap Day and encourage your colleagues, networks, friends and family to do the same.

The Close the Gap Campaign has made real progress since its inception in 2006. Indigenous infant and child mortality rates have declined significantly and a wide variety of new Indigenous health initiatives have been introduced at both State and Federal levels.

But while we’ve come a long way in terms of public recognition and support, and injection of new resources from government, our ultimate success will require this support and additional resources being further increased and sustained over the next two-three decades.

It is too early for major changes in Indigenous health to have taken place, so it’s sobering to remember that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander life expectancy is still 10-17 years less than other Australians. We need a sustained level of support from government over many years to close this health gap.

National Close the Gap Day 2014 is a key way your organisation can make a real difference to ensuring ongoing support by government to Indigenous health equality.

National Close the Gap Day is on Thursday 20th March, 2014. Participation in National Close the Gap Day by your organisation and staff is an excellent way to demonstrate your support for this crucial issue, to give your staff and community a chance to participate in it and to be part of a broad, national movement working for health equality.

It gives your organisation and employees the opportunity to show their support for closing the 10-17 year life expectancy gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and other Australians.

We would like you to get involved in National Close the Gap Day this year and help us keep Indigenous health equality and the need for action, on the agenda:

ACTION

• Encourage  your staff and/or departments to hold their own National Close the Gap Day events.
• Please  send this email throughout your networks and encourage Individuals and groups to host events. They can register online here.

We have a range of web banners, images and logos that are available on request to promote National Close the Gap Day to your organisation and networks .

www.oxfam.org.au/national-day

Tom Widdup
Close the Gap Campaign Coordinator, Oxfam Australia