Don't Let 'close the Gap' Become Another Shallow Slogan
It is time for genuine partnerships as all Australians strive to 'Close the Gap', according to an editorial published in the 19 May indigenous health issue of The Medical Journal of Australia.
President of the Australian Indigenous Doctors Association, Dr Tamara Mackean, and her co-authors have addressed the health challenges for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the need for a long-term approach that secures the future of a healed and healty nation.
Dr Mackean said the success of the campaign for indigenous health equality will be measured by progress towards clearly stated goals within set time frames.
"It is unacceptable to continue with the current situation, in which the health outcomes and the life chances of an indigenous child are substantially worse than those of their non-indigenous peers," she said.
"We must not allow 'Close the Gap' to become another shallow slogan. It is a glaring reminder of the continuing inequity in health and life outcomes within this wealthy nation of ours."
On 20 December last year, COAG committed to:
- Closing the life expectancy gap within a generation;
- Halving the gap in mortality rates for indigenous children under five within a decade; and
- Halving the gap in reading, writing and numeracy achievements within a decade in a partnership between all levels of government and with indigenous communities.
COAG added that the pathway to closing the gap was inextricably linked to economic development and improved education outcomes.
Dr Mackean said governments need strong national leadership to seriously tackle the entrenched disparity and unacceptable outcomes in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.
"It is simply not defensible for governments and health and human services systems to argue that inadequate infrastructure, bureaucratic mechanisms or persistent complexity are justifiable speed humps to real change," she said.
The Medical Journal of Australia is a publication of the Australian Medical Association.
The statements or opinions that are expressed in the MJA reflect the views of the authors and do not represent the official policy of the AMA unless that is so stated.
CONTACT:
Dr Tamara Mackean 08 8204 4821 or 0403 204 020
Kylie Butler (AMA) 02 6270 5466 or 0417 652 488