ANF commitment to Close the Gap
The Australian Nursing Federation commits to supporting the OXFAM Close the Gap campaign to reduce health inequality between Indigenous and other Australians within a generation.
It is unacceptable that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people die at much higher rates of disease and around 20 years earlier than other Australians. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infant mortality is three times the rate of non-Indigenous Australians.
These health indicators are a scandal. It is inconceivable that a wealthy country such as Australia cannot address a health crisis affecting less than 3% of its population.
Many of the poor health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are preventable and related to social and economic factors: diseases triggered by poverty; overcrowded housing; poor sanitation; poor access to education; poor access to medical care for accurate diagnosis and treatment; and poor nutrition.
A well planned allocation of human resources and increased investment in health infrastructure, including primary health care, adequate housing and the promotion of healthy lifestyles can contribute to health equality between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous Australians.
The ANF joins OXFAM in calling for all Australian governments to take action to achieve health equality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within 25 years.
Funding should be provided for the following specific measures:
- Improving access for Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander people to culturally appropriate primary health care services to a level commensurate with need;
- Increasing the number of health professionals working within Aboriginal health settings and further development and training of the Indigenous health workforce;
- Improving the responsiveness of mainstream health services and programs to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' health needs;
- Improving the targeting of maternal and child health and increasing support for Indigenous-specific population programs for chronic and communicable disease;
- Improving funding and support for the building blocks of good health such as awareness of nutrition, physical activity, fresh food, healthy lifestyles, and adequate housing; and
- Setting national targets and benchmarks toward achieving health equality, by which progress can be closely monitored and evaluated.
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