Closing the Gap: where to now?

Bronchiectasis among Indigenous adults in the Top End of the Northern Territory, 2011–2020: a retrospective cohort study

“…These strategies, needed to close the health gap between Indigenous and non‐Indigenous adults in Australia, 24 will require collaborative partnerships between primary health care workers, as well as the leadership and involvement of Aboriginal health workers and practitioners and Aboriginal health organisations.…”

Strengthening the presence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices in the Medical Journal of Australia

“…Milroy and Bandler summarise the current situation in the 14 years since Closing the Gap was announced: 2 “In 2007, Closing the Gap was heralded by the Australian government as a shift in health policy for Indigenous Australians, proposing drastic action that would be measured against clear benchmarks. The flaw in this policy was the assumption that a homogenous approach, unaccompanied by deep, meaningful engagement with Indigenous people, communities, and health care services would be sufficient.” Fixing the problems will need a radical rethink 3 …”

“…Milroy and Bandler 2 recommend we move away from paternalistic initiatives and counting individuals with illness to “health care relationships and partnerships that empower” Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. While we appreciate the importance of studies on prevalence and incidence in health, in recent years we have sought to prioritise publication of studies assessing the impacts of interventions on health outcomes and will strengthen this effort going forward.…”