2021 National CTG Day and New Report: Leadership and Legacy Through Crises – Keeping Our Mob Safe

Today, Thursday 18 March 2021, is National Close the Gap Day.

The 12th annual Close the Gap Campaign report entitled, Leadership and Legacy Through Crises: Keeping our Mob safe is a wakeup call to Australian Governments that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have the solutions to health inequality in their grasp. Click here to read the report.

This year’s report was produced by the Lowitja Institute, Australia’s community controlled national institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research, on behalf of the Close the Gap Steering Committee.

The report showcases the resilience, strengths and leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities and organisations throughout critical health crises in 2020: devastating bushfires and climate change, the coronavirus pandemic and the mental health emergency facing First Australians.

At the onset of COVID, Australian governments finally put their trust in us — those with on the ground local insights and expertise to keep our people healthy.

- June Oscar AO, Co-Chair, Close the Gap Campaign & Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner.

When it came to COVID-19, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have completely reversed the gap — currently the number of cases among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is six times lower than the rest of Australia.

Homelands, once threatened with closure by governments, became some of the safest places in Australia due to the quick action and leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

2020 showed that strong health outcomes and significant reform can be achieved through strengths-based community-led action when there is matching political will to support it.

The work and leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples throughout 2020 is showcased in the 2021 Close the Gap report through case studies from across Australia that focus on:

• Culturally empowered solutions to protecting communities from COVID-19: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group on COVID-19, Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services (KAMS), Central Australian Aboriginal Congress (CAAC)
• Asset-based and Holistic Approaches for addressing climate change and protecting Country: Waminda/Katungul Aboriginal health services, Seed Mob, Aboriginal Carbon Foundation
• Resilience and Protective factors for social and emotional wellbeing: Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO), Transforming Indigenous Mental Health and Wellbeing research project, Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia, ALIVE & Kicking Goals! Youth Suicide Prevention Project.

You can read the new report here.