Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

show Side Menu

Please note the services listed in the online directory below are not COVID-19 testing centres.

Sign Up

GCPHN has a number of regular printed and email publications. Subscribe here to:

Your Local News
Your Local News

To receive important alerts and updates from Gold Coast Primary Health Network, please submit the form below.

Email address*

Your Name*
Please advise if you work in*

This iframe contains the logic required to handle Ajax powered Gravity Forms.
Secure GP Bulletin
Secure GP Bulletin

To receive important alerts and updates from Gold Coast Primary Health Network, please submit the form below. Please note: the GP Bulletin publication is for local GPs only.

Email address*
Practice name*
First name*
Last name*
Contact number*
Medical registration no.*
Suburb*
Postcode*

This iframe contains the logic required to handle Ajax powered Gravity Forms.
MHAoD Snapshot
MHAoD Snapshot

The Mental Health and Alcohol & other Drugs (MHAoD) Snapshot contains information that is relevant for stakeholders, community organisations, the general public, allied health and healthcare professionals. To receive this online publication, please submit the form below.

Email address*

Your Name*
Please advise if you work in*

This iframe contains the logic required to handle Ajax powered Gravity Forms.

Content last updated 16/02/2021

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Health

Gold Coast Primary Health Network (GCPHN) acknowledges the traditional owners of the country on which we work and live and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respect to them and their cultures; and to Elders past, present and emerging.

GCPHN will strive to achieve reconciliation through improving the cultural appropriateness of Primary Health Care services and promoting equal opportunities within the health sector of the Gold Coast region for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. GCPHN values open, respectful and transparent communications with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, their respected community organisations and all other stakeholders involved in improving the health, social and emotional wellbeing of the Gold Coast’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Funded Services

Resources

Chronic Disease Management

https://gcphn.org.au/community/health-resources-for-community/aboriginal-torres-strait-islander-health/#chronic-disease-management Copied to clipboard

Health Checks

https://gcphn.org.au/community/health-resources-for-community/aboriginal-torres-strait-islander-health/#health-checks Copied to clipboard

Advance Care Planning

https://gcphn.org.au/community/health-resources-for-community/aboriginal-torres-strait-islander-health/#advance-care-planning Copied to clipboard

Closing the Gap

https://gcphn.org.au/community/health-resources-for-community/aboriginal-torres-strait-islander-health/#closing-the-gap Copied to clipboard

National Close the Gap Day in Australia

National Close the Gap Day (NCTGD) is an annual awareness event that aims to close the health and life expectancy gap between the indigenous and the non-indigenous communities in Australia.

NCTGD is usually held on the third Thursday in March. It was first observed in 2007 as a joint venture between Australia’s top public and health organisations. Olympic sprinter Cathy Freeman and swimmer Ian Thorpe launched the campaign from the Olympic Stadium in Sydney.

Unequal health outcomes

The campaign was a response to the poor health outcomes among indigenous groups in Australia. Studies have shown that the life expectancy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is 10-17 years lower than that of non-Indigenous Australians.

The main aim of National Close the Gap Day is to make people from both indigenous and non-indigenous backgrounds aware of this problem and work towards finding ways to solve it.

A human rights issue

High life expectancy is not just a health issue, but it is also a human rights issue. Poverty, education, and employment levels all have a long-lasting impact on the health of a community. The Close the Gap campaign recognises this and emphasises that closing the gap in early childhood development, schooling, housing, and employment is the key to also closing the health gap.

What happens on National Close the Gap Day

National Close the Gap Day is not an official holiday, so businesses, schools, and government offices are open. Community health groups, educators, medical professionals, and policy-makers organise outreach drives, conferences, and workshops to bring attention to the problem of low life expectancy among indigenous groups.