Transcript Indigenous Women - Oxfam Australia
CLOSE THE GAP
In Australia there are over 510,000 Indigenous people making up 2.5% of the total Australian population
Some live on the beautiful Torres Strait Islands, others live in remote communities , country towns or urban cities
Together
we share a common humanity We are all created equally But our opportunities in life and our levels of
disadvantage
vary greatly
Today
One of us is expected to live 17 years longer than the other One of us is 10 times more likely to be diagnosed with kidney disease One of us is 3 times more likely to have diabetes One of us is Indigenous and one is not
Today
A huge gap exists between the life expectancy and health of those who are Indigenous and those who are not.
Life Expectancy Gap= 17 years
Life expectancy rate for Indigenous Australians are alarmingly similar to those in a number of developing countries
Cambodia Bangladesh
Country
Cambodia Bangladesh and Pakistan Indigenous Australia Bolivia and Bhutan India Indonesia Vietnam, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu
Indigenous Aust.
Average Life Expectancy 58 61 62 63 64 67 69
But such a gap has no place in our society It cannot be tolerated We cannot look away We have to care We have to ask why
Why is there a gap?
The reasons are complex.
Social, economic and physical factors all play a role.
Dispossession Dislocation Poor and overcrowded housing Discrimination Poor diet and nutrition Unemployment (3 times the rate for non-Indigenous people ) Limited access to health care services Low income (Indigenous Australians earn just 62% of the income of non-Indigenous people).
Lack of education (In 2006, 21 % of 15 year old Indigenous people were not participating in school education)
These all lead to the Gap
For many Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal peoples the odds are
stacked against them
How
can we Close the Gap?
We have the resources and knowledge to close the gap Equality Empowerment Services and resources Opportunities Education and training Recognition and respect Working in partnership
In the remote Kimberley region of Western Australia, Caritas Australia is working with the Diabetes Management Program on the prevention, management, treatment and care of diabetes
Success
is being achieved through Parental Involvement School fitness and health programs Provision of healthy breakfasts Cooking classes using local and traditional foods Diabetes education Training community leaders the program Nutrition of to run education Shops are clearly identifying healthy food with coloured stickers
The local people are taking control of their own health. Diabetes in these communities is decreasing!
Together we are making a difference
promoting a change in lifestyle behaviours and Close the Gap health to
Together
,
we are moving forward
But
We can do more ….
we need help. Prime Minister Mr. Kevin Rudd 17-year life expectancy gap has promised to close the between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians by 2030 .
He has promised that Indigenous people will get health services equal to those of the rest of the population within 10 years .
Now we need to ensure that the government keeps its promise.
What
is the Close the Gap Campaign? The Close the Gap campaign is calling on Australian governments to take action to achieve health equality for Indigenous Australians within 25 years by: A long-term investment in Indigenous health; investment in financial and human resources Increasing Indigenous control and participation in the delivery of health services to ensure that people are active partners in their own health Addressing critical social issues such as housing, education and self-determination which contribute to the Indigenous health crisis
What can
you
do to Close the Gap?
Take the 30 for 2030 challenge – Get 30 friends, family, neighbours to sign a Close the Gap pledge. Challenge you classmates to get involved too!!
Sign the Close the Gap pledge www.oxfam.org.au/closethegap Join the Facebook Close the Gap group and post relevant news on the Wall
facebook.com/closethegapcampaign