ACT Chief Minister commits to Closing the gap in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health equality

The ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope signed the Close the gap statement of intent at a ceremony at Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service in Canberra, committing his government and future ACT Governments to improving the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal people in the ACT. The Statement of intent, also signed by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and then Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson in March 2008, is a commitment between the ACT Government and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to work together to achieve equality in health status and life expectancy between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and other Australians, by 2030. It commits all parties to a plan that includes:

• developing a comprehensive long-term plan of action to achieve equality of health and life expectancy between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians by 2030;
• ensuring full participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in addressing their health needs;
• working together to address the social determinants that impact health equality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; and
  
• supporting and developing Aboriginal Community Controlled Health services.

Links

• View report: Indigenous health equality summit statement of intent (PDF - 282.2 KB)
• View media release: ACT Chief Minister commits to closing the gap in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health equality
• View website: Oxfam Australia