‘Resilience, innovation, and a commitment to building a better future’

Outcomes improve when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities lead, but that progress will remain ‘fragile and unequal’ without urgent reforms.
 
That is according to the 2026 Close the Gap report, which concludes that holistic approaches to wellbeing, and centering family, culture, and Country are vital to closing Australia’s health gap.
 
Released on Thursday to mark National Close the Gap Day, the report found that while some progress is being made, most health and equity targets remain off track.
 
Currently, around one third of the nation’s health gap is driven by social determinants, such as housing, education, income, and food access, and the burden of disease for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is 2.3 times higher than for other Australians.
 
In response, the Close the Gap report is calling for urgent change to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights and leadership are recognised and protected in law, as well as for long-term investment in community controlled solutions.
 
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss said that without reform, the gains made so far are fragile.
 
‘Real progress means embedding rights and accountability in Australia’s laws, not just policy documents,’ she said.
 
‘Closing the gap requires more than policy, it demands legislative action to protect rights and drive accountability.’
 
Themed ‘Community Voices: The Pathway to Justice, Equality and Healing’, the 2026 report made a number of recommendations, leading with a call to enshrine the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples into domestic law.
 
Dr Sarah-Rebekah Clarke is a GP at Awabakal Medical Service and said there are several practical steps GPs can take to adopt a broader, more patient-centred model in their everyday work, in line with the Close the Gap report’s recommendations.
 
‘Pause during the consultation and practice deep listening,’ she told newsGP.
 
‘Although we can be time pressured to see the next patient, take the time to see the person in front of you and share a part of yourself with them too.
 
‘It’s about creating authentic connection to increase trust, understand where a person is at in their health journey, and in doing all this, it will improve one person’s view of the health system at a time whilst also building job satisfaction.’
 
But Dr Clarke said with significant health gaps still present in Australia, ongoing education on the importance of addressing these gaps is key.
 
She is also calling for ongoing periodic reviews of target progress and checking in with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community voices on the most effective way to achieve the target, as well as greater government accountability.
 
‘Close the Gap Day for me is the reality that we should look at, and help the evident inequities, that are within our own backyard,’ Dr Clarke said.
 
‘Idealistically I would love to see in 10 years’ time, all the Close the Gap targets are achieved beyond the set target.
 
‘And that First Nations health and wellbeing remain a national priority with government accountability, transparency and ongoing essential partnerships with First Nation communities to guide its progress.’
 
Last month, the Commonwealth Closing the Gap 2025 Annual Report revealed that only four of its 19 targets are on track to be met by deadline.
 
Those key targets not being met by government include plans to reduce the rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults held in incarceration, and a target to reduce the rate of overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care.
 
Close the Gap Co-Chair Karl Briscoe said Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities continue to show ‘remarkable leadership’, but now, it is time for government to act.
 
‘Consistently driving positive change by advocating for their rights, their efforts have been instrumental in shaping policies, advancing social justice, and ensuring the voices of First Peoples are heard and respected,’ he said.
 
‘What the report highlights is, despite facing numerous challenges, these communities demonstrate resilience, innovation, and a commitment to building a better future for generations to come.
 
‘Now it’s time for governments to back this with action.’
 
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