Close the Gap - National Indigenous Health Equality Targets

Close the Gap - National Indigenous Health Equality Targets

Outcomes from the National Indigenous Health Equality Summit Canberra , March 18–20, 2008

Our challenge for the future is to embrace a new partnership between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. The core of this partnership for the future is closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians on life expectancy, educational achievement and employment opportunities. This new partnership on closing the gap will set concrete targets for the future: within a decade to halve the widening gap in literacy, numeracy and employment outcomes and opportunities for Indigenous children, within a decade to halve the appalling gap in infant mortality rates between Indigenous and non-Indigenous children and, within a generation, to close the equally appalling 17-year life gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous when it comes to overall life expectancy.

The Prime Minister, the Hon. Kevin Rudd MP Apology to Australia's Indigenous Peoples, 13 February 2008

Contents

Preface

Part 1. Background

• The Close the Gap Campaign for Indigenous Health Equality

• Recommendations of the Social Justice Report 2005

• Open Letter to Australian Governments, April 2007

• Extracts from COAG Communiqués and related materials issued prior to December 2007 containing commitments by Australian governments in relation to Indigenous health

• The December 2007 COAG Communiqué (extracts)

Part 2. Outcomes from the National Indigenous Health Equality Summit

• The Close the Gap Statement of Intent

• Close the Gap National Indigenous Health Equality Summit Targets Outline Summary

• Close the Gap National Indigenous Health Equality Targets

• The National Indigenous Health Equality Summit, March 20th 2008, Great Hall, Parliament House, Canberra

Part 3. Looking to the Future

Essentials for Social Justice: Close the Gap , a speech by Mr Tom Calma, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, IQPC Collaborative Indigenous Policy Conference, Brisbane, 11 June 2008

Part 4. Acknowledgments

• The coalition for Indigenous Health Equality

• The Steering Committee for Indigenous Health Equality

• The targets working groups

• Others