Indigenous Health

The College has recognised that the inequality in health status endured by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is linked to systemic discrimination. This occurs through the inaccessibility of mainstream services and reduced health services, including primary health care and inadequate provision of health infrastructure in some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

The College identifies Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health within a holistic framework reflecting both the social determinants of health inequality as well as broader issues identified by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as impacting on their health, such as dispossession from their customary lands, unlawful removal of children without their parents' consent and the abolition of high level decision making bodies for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The RACP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Expert EAG is responsible for strengthening the College's capacity to develop a coordinated RACP approach to improving the health and social outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia. It achieves this through a social justice approach throughout the College's training, education and Continuing Professional Development programs; and, developing and maintaining links with appropriate organisations, agencies and Expert Advisory Groups both internal and external to the RACP.

• Inquiry into the tobacco industry in Aotearoa and the consequences of tobacco use for Maori - Feb 2010 (PDF 87KB)
• Indigenous Juveniles and Young Adults in the Criminal Justice System - Australian Federal House of Representatives - Jan 2010 (PDF 118KB)
• Medical Specialist Outreach Assistance Program - Indigenous Chronic Disease Measure Guidelines - Department of Health and Ageing - Nov 2009 (PDF 104KB) 
• National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) and RACP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Expert Advisory Group - Heads of Agreement Aug 2008 (PDF 755KB)
• Outcomes and Recommendations - Finding Solutions That Work: How Can Public Health Physicians Contribute to Effective Strategies to Improve the Health of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders? Aug 2007 (PDF 1241KB)
• Submission to the Legislative Council Standing Committee on Social Issues Inquiry into Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage in NSW (PDF 82KB)
• An Introduction to Cultural Competency - AIDA & RACP: Nov 2004 (PDF 58KB)
• Policy Statement on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health: Sep 2003 (PDF 32KB)

Close the Gap

In April 2007, 40 of Australia's leading Indigenous and non-Indigenous health peak bodies and human rights organisations joined forces to launch a campaign to ‘Close the Gap' on health inequality. The campaign comes in response to a call from the Social Justice Commissioner to achieve health equality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within 25 years. ‘Close the Gap' calls on all levels of Australian government to put in place firm targets, funding and timeframes to address health inequalities, including providing equal access to primary health care for Indigenous Australians within 10 years.

• Close the Gap Campaign's Shadow Report on the Government's progress on 'closing the gap' - Feb 2010 (PDF 905KB) - NEW
• Close the Gap Steering Group Workshop Report: Partnership in action - What is required to close the Indigenous health equality gap by 2030? - Nov 2008 (PDF 294KB)
• Close the Gap National Indigenous Health Equality Targets - Outcomes from the National Indigenous Health Equality Summit - Mar 2008 (PDF 1592KB)
• Close the Gap Indigenous Health Equality Summit: Statement of Intent - Mar 08 (PDF 283KB)

Please contact the Policy and Advocacy Unit for further information: policy@racp.edu.au