Thousands Attend National Close the Gap Day
26 March 2010 at 2:39 pm
More than 30,000 people attended events around Australia to mark National Close the Gap Day on March 25th.
Closing the Gap steering committee co-chair Mick Gooda says more than 550 events held around Australia celebrated the progress in the campaign to close the health gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians and urge further action by government.
Mr Gooda says the popularity of this year’s event shows that public interest in ‘closing the gap’ is growing.
March 20th marked the second anniversary of the signing of the Statement on Intent between the Government and Opposition of Australia and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The parties agreed to work together to achieve equality in health status and life expectancy between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-indigenous Australians by 2030.
Mr Gooda says closing the gap must remain one of the Federal Government’s top priorities.
Tom Calma, co-chair of the steering committee, says the although the Government’s support has brought some big achievements – including a $1.6 billion injection into Indigenous health – gaps remain in the Government’s approach.
Events around the country included countless morning and afternoon teas, information sessions, festivals, sausage sizzles, barbecues, prayer sessions, DVD screenings, lectures, dinner parties and many more.
For information on the Close the Gap initiative, visit www.oxfam.org.au/act/events/close-the-gap-day
