Close the Gap Day

As explained by Oxfam, ‘equal access to healthcare is a basic human right, and in Australia, we expect it. So what if we told you that you can expect to live almost 20 years less than your next-door neighbour? You wouldn’t accept it. No-one should. But in reality, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People can expect to live up to 10–17 years less than non-Indigenous Australians’.

 

Life expectancy and health goes beyond access to primary health care but is made up of many different social aspects as well as physical needs. This includes aspects such as employment security, economic inclusion, social inclusion and childhood development as well as many others. Where the City of Wanneroo may not be in a position to help directly with primary healthcare, it can support with these other social aspects of health. The City of Wanneroo is half way into its second Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), which shows tangible ways that we can help towards closing the gap and improve relationships with our Indigenous community.

 

You can view our RAP on our website, and if you would like to know more or be part of any of these actions, please call our RAP Officer on 9405 5000.

 

For more information on Close the Gap Day or to see how you can be involved visit the oxfam website.