Working to close the gap

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The Close the Gap Indigenous health campaign marked its 10th anniversary today.

The campaign started in 2006 as an attempt to combat the comparatively poor health of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Since that time, health bodies, non-government organisations (NGOs) and human rights organisations have joined together to work towards achieving health equality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. They hope to “close the gap” between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians in regards to health and life expectancy by 2030.

During his years spent working for the Uniting Church’s Northern Synod, Uniting Church President Stuart McMillan saw firsthand the impact of health issues on many communities.

“Yolŋu First People from north-eastern Arnhem Land and others around the nation continue to raise many concerns, particularly health,” says Stuart, talking about National Close the Gap Day.

This is an issue that is tied to the need for sovereignty and treaty in the eyes of many who are speaking into these issues.

“For those who choose to listen, [the] overarching message is clear – the dominant Australian legal and governance structures need to engage with First Peoples towards recognition of their sovereignty and to negotiate treaties for all,” Stuart continues.

“Australia’s Second Peoples live on occupied land as guests.”

During their meeting in 2015, the 14th Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia agreed to support constitutional recognition as a “step towards and not a blockage to the larger issues of sovereignty and treat.” They also committed to working with members of the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress to educate the wider Uniting Church about the need for a treaty, in addition to highlighting issues faced by First Peoples.

“As someone who has worked closely with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples over four decades I firmly believe this:

“We can never be a mature nation and close the gap until we honour First People as sovereign and negotiate treaties on just terms,” Stuart concludes.

The Uniting Church SA Transforming Justice and Covenanting teams have been working on an article outlining the aims of Close the Gap, progress made in the campaign thus far, and how Uniting Church communities across South Australia can engage on these issues. More information will be provided in coming months.

Stuart McMillan addressed the topic of treaty and sovereignty in a Survival Day message issued in January 2016. Read more about the message here.


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