5. Closing the Gap- Life expectancy

Question 1

­In 2005

Answer 1

­ In 2005, there was an urge for Australian governments to commit to achieving equality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in health and life expectancy within 25 years

Question 2

There was a gap between ATSI people and the rest of Australia in terms of:

Answer 2

• health care knowledge
• examination
• intervention
• resources

Question 3

In 2008

Answer 3

­ In 2008, Australian Governments committed to specific targets for reducing inequalities in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander life expectancy, mortality, education and employment
­ A 7th target to close the gap in school attendance was added in 2014

Question 4

At the time, Closing the Gap was the most

Answer 4

At the time, Closing the Gap was the most ambitious commitment ever made by governments to improve outcomes for Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islander people
­ However, the agreement was negotiated with little to no input from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and without an understanding of the mechanisms and timeframes needed to deliver lasting change

Question 5

How many targets are on track?

Answer 5

­ Only 3/7 targets are on track
­ The target to close the gap in life expectancy by 2031 is not on track
­ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander life expectancies are 10-11 years below other Australians
­ Between 2010-12 and 1015-17, Indigenous life expectancies at birth improved by 2.5 years for Indigenous males and by 1.9 years for Indigenous females (both not statistically significant), which has led to a small reduction in the gap
­ Indigenous life expectancy estimates reduce with increasing remoteness

Question 6

What does the Government do?

Answer 6

­ As part of this, the Government is investing in programs that increase food security and boost nutrition levels in remote Indigenous communities
­ Ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are able to access healthy, affordable food is a key to better health

Question 7

What does Closing the gap continually focus on?

Answer 7

­Continued focus on:

• reducing prevalence of health risk factors
• improving health literacy
• social determinants of health
• improving access to medical care
• especially early detection
• management of chronic disease mortality rate
  = in turn, close the life expectancy gap

Question 8

In 2019

Answer 8

In 2019, Scott Morrison, the Prime Minister of Australia wanted to accelerate the Closing the Gap Program by having a deeper partnership with Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islander
­ This includes co-designing action plans, funding decisions, and regular evaluations
­ The Partnership Agreement makes sure that Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islander people can share in the decision making about policies and program that impact them and have a say over their own lives