29 August 2007
NATIONAL CLOSE THE GAP DAY – 18TH SEP
Over forty community and health groups including Caritas Australia are supporting the "Close the Gap" campaign to end the health crisis currently experienced by indigenous Australians.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders die 17 years earlier than non-Indigenous Australians. Infant mortality amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders is three times that of non-Indigenous Australians. The most recent budget gave just $30 million per year for Indigenous health funding - less than 10% of the $460 million that is required according to the Australian Medical Association.
At the same time the government has recently announced it now expects a $17.3 billion surplus in the current budget almost $4 billion dollars more than predicted in May.
September 18th has been designated as National Close the Gap Day which will give Australians across the nation the opportunity to come together and show their support for closing the 17-year life expectancy gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and other Australians.
See the above website for actions that are taking place in cities around the country on that day.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders die 17 years earlier than non-Indigenous Australians. Infant mortality amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders is three times that of non-Indigenous Australians. The most recent budget gave just $30 million per year for Indigenous health funding - less than 10% of the $460 million that is required according to the Australian Medical Association.
At the same time the government has recently announced it now expects a $17.3 billion surplus in the current budget almost $4 billion dollars more than predicted in May.
September 18th has been designated as National Close the Gap Day which will give Australians across the nation the opportunity to come together and show their support for closing the 17-year life expectancy gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and other Australians.
See the above website for actions that are taking place in cities around the country on that day.
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