Closing the Gap

Structural reform, shared decision-making and strong accountability are essential to First Nations health, wellbeing and justice.

Each year, the third Thursday of March is Close the Gap Day.

While Closing the Gap should be a daily priority, today we recognise the leadership, strength and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and we recommit to:

• Listening to, learning from, and amplifying Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices, ensuring our actions align with community priorities and self-determination.
• Supporting community-led solutions that strengthen equality in life expectancy, health and wellbeing, education, and economic opportunity.

Recent data, released in February, shows that while progress is being made in some areas, significant challenges remain. Of the 19 national Closing the Gap targets:

• Four are on track
• Four have stalled or are going backwards. These areas, including youth incarceration, child removal, early childhood development, and suicide, highlight where sustained, community-led action and structural reform are still urgently needed.

While recent investments in Indigenous health, including a $144 million commitment to upgrade services, are welcome, progress remains uneven. Sustained, structural reform is required to deliver lasting change.

The Close the Gap Campaign’s latest report highlights that while the National Agreement provides a pathway to implementing the rights affirmed in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), these rights will not be realised without structural reform, shared decision-making, and strong accountability.

The Brotherhood of St. Laurence (BSL) supports these critical pillars and is committed to working alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in ways that centre self-determination and community leadership.

We recognise that meaningful progress is led by community, and we will continue to advocate for the structural reforms needed to truly Close the Gap.