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Organisations combine to achieve Indigenous health equality

Ian Thorpe signing the Close the Gap pledge

19 March 2007 - A number of health organisations have gathered in Alice Springs ahead of a new Aboriginal health campaign to be launched next month.

Oxfam will be coordinating the 'Close the Gap' campaign, which calls on governments to commit to achieving Indigenous health equality in 25 years.

The national manager of Oxfam's Indigenous Australia program, Fiona Moore, says it is the first time such a broad range of Aboriginal and non- Aboriginal organisations will undertake such a large project.

"To demand that both political parties, or rather all political parties take on Indigenous health and well being as a national priority, to my knowledge it's the first time that there's a really concerted commitment and effort being made," she said.

Ms Moore says countries such as New Zealand and North America have shown meaningful progress is achievable within 25 years.

"They have made a significant impact in closing the gap to something like between eight and three years, between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples and I think if they can do it in these other countries, why can't we do it here," she said.

The manager of a Top End health service says the campaign could be a turning point in Indigenous health.

The manager of the Oxfam Gulf Region Health Service, Mona Phillips, says it is the first time she has seen such a concerted campaign.

"It's very encouraging to know that there's a lot of support out there and to put the focus on Indigenous health here in Australia because I really think it's overdue," she said.

Source: ABC

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