Close the Gap Day 2024

21/03/2024

Today is National Close the Gap Day, an annual celebration of the work of the community-led Close the Gap Campaign for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing. Closing the Gap is underpinned by the belief that when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a genuine say in the design and delivery of policies, programs and services that affect them, better life outcomes are achieved. It also recognises that structural change in the way governments work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is needed to close the gap.

National Close the Gap Day aims to bring people together, to raise awareness and to take meaningful action in support of achieving equal outcomes for First Nations Peoples by 2032.

Additionally, the Close the Gap Campaign prepares an annual report. This year’s report, authored by the Lowitja Institute on behalf of the Close the Gap Campaign is titled ‘Voyage to the Voice, Treaty, Truth and Beyond’ and can be found here. The 2024 report showcases the tireless work of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, individuals, and organisations over the past 12 months in pursuit of wellbeing, sovereignty and self-determination.

First Nations Committee Chair, Tony McAvoy SC has observed, “the Close the Gap targets include specific targets relating to the reduction in the overincarceration rates of First Nations people. They are targets which the Government and the profession must strive to achieve. The advocacy of the NSW Bar Association against legislative reform that will result in the increased incarceration of First Nations people is a necessary and also welcome contribution to policy and legislative process.”

More information about National Close the Gap Day 2024 can be found here.