Close the Gap Progress Report Released

Close the Gap Campaign co-chairs Mick Gooda and Kirstie Parker have released the 2015 Close the Gap Progress and Priorities Report and presented key recommendations which would lead to  improved treatment and management of chronic health conditions in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
The report was released to coincide with the Prime Minister’s annual report card on progress made to reduce Indigenous disadvantage.
In his presentation to Parliament, Mr Abbott said "this seventh Closing the Gap report is in many respects profoundly disappointing. "Despite the concerted efforts of successive governments since the first report, we are not on track to achieve most of the targets."
"This is an endeavour when every opposition wants the Government to succeed but when a government cuts $500 million from essential services we are compelled to point out what these cuts mean," he said.
Key recommendations from the 2015 Close the Gap Progress and Priorities Report include:

1. That the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Measures Survey (NATSIHMS) findings are used to better target chronic conditions in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population.


2. That the Australian Government continues to lead the COAG Closing the Gap Strategy.


3. That the Australian Government restore the National Indigenous Drug and Alcohol Committee.

The Campaign has also called for clear alignment of the Indigenous Advancement Strategy with the Closing the Gap Strategy; restoration and increase of funding to vital Indigenous anti-smoking initiatives; development of a dedicated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health and social and emotional wellbeing plan to complement others relating to general health, suicide prevention and drug use; new Closing the Gap targets to reduce imprisonment and violence rates; and a comprehensive Implementation Plan for the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan.
Mr Gooda, who is also Social Justice Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission, said the report identified high levels of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with undetected treatable and preventable chronic conditions that impact significantly on life expectancy.
“Armed with this data, the Campaign Steering Committee believes the nation now has a real opportunity to make relatively large health and life expectancy gains in relatively short periods of time,” Commissioner Gooda said.
“We have seen some gains in maternal and child health but without strong and sustainable commitment from Government to ensure chronic conditions are detected, treated and managed, the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities is in jeopardy.”
Ms Parker said there needs to be  clearer connection between the Australian Government’s Indigenous Advancement Strategy – which focuses on education, employment and community safety – and the national effort to close the gap in Indigenous health
“Employment, education and community safety are drivers of improved health and wellbeing. It is important to remember that good health contributes to positive outcomes in all these areas. “In New Zealand, a four-year rise in Maori life expectancy was achieved after two decades of sustained national effort. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples could make similar gains before the early 2020s if the effort to close the gap in this country is maintained.”
“The national health plan will be pivotal in our shared efforts to close the gap.
“It will allow us to map the current service capacity and health outcomes. It will allow us to identify the gaps and provide us with the data we need to make the best possible use of resources. But we must see continued investment right across Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, including for the national health plan, if we are to close the gap."