Today is National Close the Gap Day. For over a decade, it has been an opportunity to highlight the disparity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians in health outcomes, life expectancy and economic opportunity.
Although we continue to strive forward in the journey of reconciliation, the 2022 Closing the Gap Report showed the country is not on track, or is falling behind, in 13 of its 17 socio-economic targets.
At Monash Health, we’re committed to working together to overcome the inequality experienced by First Nations peoples and achieve life outcomes equal to all Australians.
Here are some of the important initiatives going on across Monash Health to close the gap
Healthy Koori Kids clinic
The Healthy Koori Kids clinic provides an integral service to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children living in out-of-home care.
In Australia, Aboriginal children are ten times more likely to be in out-of-home care than non-Aboriginal children. In Victoria, Aboriginal kids are 17 times more likely to be in out-of-home care. Less than half are living with Aboriginal carers.
The Healthy Koori Kids team includes two paediatricians, a paediatric fellow, a paediatric psychologist, an oral hygienist, a social worker and Aboriginal Health workers. You can find out about the important work they do here.
Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officers
Our Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officers provide cultural support and assistance to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients and their families during their inpatient stay in Monash Health. They can also assist in connecting patients to community services during discharge planning.
Access and Support Workers
Access and Support workers offer support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to maintain their health, wellbeing and independence. They can help patients to access community-based services, navigate the My Aged Care and NDIS service system, or organise transportation to appointments. To find out more please email Dwayne Pearce .
Aboriginal Midwife Coordinator
The Aboriginal Midwife team provide culturally safe maternity care to Aboriginal women, babies and families during the course of pregnancy as well as post-natal care.
You can find out more about the Aboriginal Health Service on the intranet page.
Next steps
Reconciliation Action Plans (RAP) are an important tool for closing the gap by providing tangible and substantive benefits to all people, increasing economic equity and First Nations peoples’ self-determination.
Later this year we will publish our 2022-2025 Reconciliation Action Plan. To get a sense of the change our Reconciliation Action Plan will create, read our last RAP.
If you want to find out more about RAPs and the impacts they have, watch this two-minute video.
Approved by Martin Keogh, Chief Operating Officer