CRICOS Provider No. 00103D HEALT XXXXXXXXXXTask 1c Page 1 of 1 HEALT2114 Semester 2, 2018: Individual Report Assessment – Task 1c For this assessment task you are required to submit a 1500 word...

Running Head: Closing the Gap
Closing the Gap 2
Assessment
HEALT2114 Task 1C
Target- Closing the Gap
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Introduction
The target of ‘Closing the Gap’ is associated with the Indigenous and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People and discusses the possibilities of employment for these communities (Australian Government, 2018). Engaging the knowledge, experiences and unique skills of Aboriginal Communities can play a significant role in assisting the Organisations to create mutually beneficial strategies of employment. The employment significantly contributes to improve the health, financial independence and social outcomes of these people. To improve the aboriginal health and well being, the local governments have initiated various plans to promote health and prevent illness in the community. Public Health and Well Being Act 2008 promotes integrated actions across the economic, cultural, social and natural environments, thereby contributing to financial prosperity and positive health outcomes of the Torres and Strait Islander Communities.
These Communities face considerable inequalities in health standards, which involve lack of infrastructure like healthy food, housing and sanitation; and lack of equal access to healthcare facilities at primary level (Commission of Social Determinants of Health, 2010). For example there is a gap of around 17 years between the life expectancy of Aboriginal Communities and the other Australians. A high level of disability and disease also exists in these communities. They experience twice more age-specific annual death rate in comparison to rest of the Australians. The socio-economic backwardness places them at an increased risk of environmental and behavioral health risk factors. Improvements in health status can be only achieved by making them financially independent and improving their economic well being. To reduce the existing health gap between the Indigenous and other people, the local government ensures that all the Indigenous people can have equal access to all the health care resources needed to be healthy. The National Health Promotion Priorities identify and respect the strong cultural identity of these people.
‘Closing the Gap’ Target on Track
The 2008 Council of Australian Governments (COAG) ‘Closing the Gap’ Strategy was framed to help achieve the health and employment equality for the Aboriginal Communities by 2030. However, the Government has not yet significantly succeeded in closing the gap until now. A report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare in 2017 identified that the gaps in life expectancy are significantly widening due to increasing gains of Non Indigenous people in terms of health care. The approach of closing the gap is based on the understanding that the health and economic outcomes of the people are dependent on underlying structural factors such as racism, housing quality, social determinants and access to primary health care facilities. To sustain and improve the economic stability of any population, the government must address these issues with priority. The focus must be treating the causes rather than the symptoms (Australian Human Rights Commission, 2018).
Through various initiatives, the government is working to reduce the health and employment inequalities and deliver respectful, accessible and quality programs for these communities. The policies aim to develop a relationship with local Organisations which can best offer their advice on local issues of these people. The policies recognize that the power of job can transform their...