News

Close the Gap Day – March 15

March 6, 2018

Most Australians enjoy one of the highest life expectancies of any country in the world — but this is not true for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can expect to live 10–17 years less than other Australians. Babies born to Aboriginal mothers die at more than twice the rate of other Australian babies, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience higher rates of preventable illness such as heart disease, kidney disease and diabetes.

The mortality rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is on par with some of the world’s most impoverished nations.

Oxfam Australia urge you to take action by signing the Close the Gap petition and asking your friends and colleagues to do the same. You can also:

• Call, tweet or write to your local Member of Parliament and tell them that you want them to Close the Gap
• Listen to and share the stories of Aboriginal people on Facebook
• Donate to help Oxfam’s work on Close the Gap.