Close the Gap is Australias largest ever campaign to improve the life expectancy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The life expectancy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is more than a decade less than for other Australians and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander babies have more than double the chance of dying before the age of one than other Australian babies.
Heart disease is the single biggest killer of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Other serious but preventable health problems include lung disease, kidney failure and eye and ear problems.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples often have poor access to health care, and their health is also affected by things such as poor housing, lower levels of education, unemployment and discrimination.
Rugby League teaches us the value of teamwork and supporting your mates. Closing the life expectancy gap requires a team effort by all Australians.
Federal and State Governments of Australia have all committed to closing the gap, no doubt in part because of the massive community support demonstrated by events such as the NRL Close the Gap Round.
Governments and the corporate and private sector need to work in real partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples if we are to close the gap.
More than 188,000 Australians have signed the Close the Gap pledge calling for the government and community to work together to close the gap.
Around 12 per cent of all current NRL players are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, a remarkable stat when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples make up 2.5 per cent of the total population.
Rugby League was the first Australian sport to complete a Reconciliation Action Plan in 2008 and the first sport to join the Close the Gap campaign to improve Indigenous health.
The life expectancy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is more than a decade less than for other Australians and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander babies have more than double the chance of dying before the age of one than other Australian babies.
Heart disease is the single biggest killer of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Other serious but preventable health problems include lung disease, kidney failure and eye and ear problems.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples often have poor access to health care, and their health is also affected by things such as poor housing, lower levels of education, unemployment and discrimination.
Rugby League teaches us the value of teamwork and supporting your mates. Closing the life expectancy gap requires a team effort by all Australians.
Federal and State Governments of Australia have all committed to closing the gap, no doubt in part because of the massive community support demonstrated by events such as the NRL Close the Gap Round.
Governments and the corporate and private sector need to work in real partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples if we are to close the gap.
More than 188,000 Australians have signed the Close the Gap pledge calling for the government and community to work together to close the gap.
Around 12 per cent of all current NRL players are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, a remarkable stat when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples make up 2.5 per cent of the total population.
Rugby League was the first Australian sport to complete a Reconciliation Action Plan in 2008 and the first sport to join the Close the Gap campaign to improve Indigenous health.
