Jarrod Parter, STARS Cultural Capability Officer

Helen Boocock, Executive Director, STARS

We acknowledge the Country and Traditional Custodians for where our health services are located. We pay respects to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders, past, present and emerging.

Today (Thursday 16 March 2023) marks the anniversary of the National Close the Gap Day, launched by the Coalition of Australian Government (COAG) to achieve life expectancy parity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by 2031 (within a generation).

The National Close the Gap Agreement aims to achieve and improve the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across health, employment, early childhood, child mortality and life expectancy.

In July 2020, the Australian Government committed to 16 targets (please see the media release on the announcement)

1. Close the Gap in life expectancy within a generation, by 2031.
2. By 2031, increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander babies with a healthy birthweight to 91%.
3. By 2025, increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children enrolled in Year Before Fulltime Schooling (YBFS) early childhood education to 95%.
4. By 2031, increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children assessed as developmentally on track in all five domains of the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) to 55%.
5. By 2031, increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (age 20-24) attaining year 12 or equivalent qualification to 96%.
6. By 2031, increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 25-34 years who have completed a tertiary qualification (Certificate III and above) to 70 per cent.
7. By 2031, increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth (15–24 years) who are in employment, education or training to 67%.
8. By 2031, increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 25–64 who are employed to 62%.
9. By 2031, increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in appropriately sized (not overcrowded) housing to 88%.
10. By 2031, reduce the rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults held in incarceration by at least 15%.
11. By 2031, reduce the rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people (10-17 years) in detention by at least 15%.
12. By 2031, reduce the rate of over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care by 45%.
13. A significant and sustained reduction in violence and abuse against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children towards zero.
14. Significant and sustained reduction in suicide of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people towards zero.
15. a) By 2030, a 15% increase in Australia’s landmass subject to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s legal rights or interests.
    b) By 2030, a 15% increase in areas covered by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s legal rights or interests in the sea.
16. By 2031, there is a sustained increase in number and strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages being spoken.

It is important to acknowledge the significant efforts between both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to help close the gap, and more importantly, working together to address the inequalities and inequities that disproportionately affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

We encourage you all to check out ANTAR for more information and resources to support this significant cultural event.

Please reach out to STARS Indigenous Health Services via STARS_IHL@health.qld.gov.au or STARS_CC@health.qld.gov.au for further information or if you have any questions.

Look after yourselves and each other.

Helen and Jarrod.