Indigenous Leaders Call for Action and Genuine Reform on Close the Gap Day 2025

MELBOURNE, 20 March 2025 – Indigenous health leaders are today supporting National Close the Gap Day and the launch of the latest Close the Gap Report, calling for governments to urgently address systemic inequalities impacting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The National Indigenous Health Leadership Alliance (NIHLA) highlights the critical need for governments to fully implement the four Priority Reform Areas of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. The report, “Agency, Leadership, Reform: Ensuring the Survival, Dignity, and Wellbeing of First Nations Peoples”, outlines a clear roadmap for systemic change, emphasising that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander agency and leadership are key to achieving lasting improvements.

The 2025 report identifies three essential themes for driving meaningful reform:

• Agency and Self-Determination: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples leading decision-making processes.
• Leadership and Solidarity: Indigenous leadership supported by strong allies to effectively close the gap.
• Reform and Transformation: Comprehensive structural changes to eliminate racism, improve data sovereignty and ensure culturally safe policies.

Karl Briscoe (Chair of NIHLA) stressed that community-driven initiatives have consistently shown positive results. “Where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have driven implementation of the Priority Reform Areas, we have seen genuine progress”, he said. “This demonstrates the power of Indigenous leadership when governments listen, trust, and act in good faith.”

NIHLA is urging governments to:

• Honour commitments outlined in the National Agreement, guided by recommendations from the Productivity Commission’s 2024 Review.
• Invest in Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations (ACCOs), which have consistently demonstrated improved health, social and emotional wellbeing outcomes for First Nations communities.
• Establish true partnerships by co-designing policies, programs and services with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The report underscores the resilience and leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in driving positive change despite ongoing systemic challenges. Indigenous businesses now generate over $16 billion annually, employ 115,000 Indigenous people and contribute $4.2 billion in wages. For every dollar invested in Indigenous businesses, there is a return of $4.41, highlighting significant economic and social impacts.

The public is invited to actively support the Close the Gap movement by signing the pledge, sharing messages on social media and demanding stronger government action.

🔗 Learn more and sign the pledge at closethegap.org.au

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