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What is Close the Gap Day?

Close the Gap Day is an annual event held on the third Thursday of March each year to raise awareness of the significant health disparities faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia. It serves as a call to action for all Australians to support efforts to close the gap in health outcomes, with a specific focus on improving life expectancy, healthcare access, and addressing preventable diseases within First Nations communities.

The goal is to achieve health equity for First Nations people and communities by 2032. On Close the Gap Day, people are encouraged to organise activities, share information, and take meaningful action to help close the health gap for First Nations communities across Australia.

WNSW PHN & Closing the Gap

The Western NSW Primary Health Network (WNSW PHN) is committed to commissioning high-quality healthcare services across our region, especially for First Nations communities. Our mission is to reduce health inequities by improving access to essential healthcare services and supporting cultural safety in every aspect of care.

How WNSW PHN is Making an Impact

1. Data Sovereignty and Governance: Achieving the Close the Gap targets relies on accurate, culturally appropriate, and locally driven data. The National PHN Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Governance Steering Group ensures Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities control their own data, which is used ethically and accurately to guide health services, enabling better-targeted programs and policies that meet the real needs of the community. WNSW PHN is proud to have representation on this group, ensuring that our regional perspectives and community needs are reflected in national strategies.
2. Aboriginal Health Advisory Council: Our Aboriginal Health Advisory Council supports WNSW PHN by providing advice to the Board on locally relevant Aboriginal community perspectives, including their unique health needs, access to services, and service gaps. Their input ensures our services are shaped to meet the specific needs of First Nations people, directly contributing to achieving the Close the Gap targets and improving health outcomes.
3. Partnerships with Aboriginal Health Organisations: By partnering with local Aboriginal health organisations, we help fund culturally safe health services, making it easier for Aboriginal people to access the care they need. The Integrated Team Care (ITC) program supports the Closing the Gap targets by providing Aboriginal people living with chronic conditions access to coordinated, culturally safe care, improving health outcomes and reducing health disparities in remote and rural areas.
4. Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) Program: In partnership with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, the SEWB program provides culturally responsive social and emotional wellbeing services, including activities and workforce development. This program directly supports the Close the Gap targets by improving mental health and emotional wellbeing for First Nations peoples. By offering culturally safe and accessible services, SEWB helps reduce mental health disparities and fosters a healthier, more resilient community, contributing to the broader goal of closing the health gap.
5. Supporting Federal Government initiatives designed to improve health outcomes: By supporting the delivery of 715 Health Checks, WNSW PHN helps ensure Aboriginal people receive timely and comprehensive health assessments, which play a vital role in addressing health disparities and moving towards better overall health equity.

What Can You Do?

Close the Gap Day is a call to action for all of us. Here’s how you can get involved:

• Learn more: Read the National Agreement on Closing the Gap
• Sign the Close the Gap Pledge.
• Follow and engage with the Close the Gap Facebook page.
• Donate to the Close the Gap campaign.

At WNSW PHN, we are proud of the progress we’ve made in reducing health inequalities, but we recognise that there is still much work to be done. By working together with First Nations communities, health services, and organisations, we can continue to close the gap and ensure that everyone has access to the healthcare they deserve.