Close the Gap Day is a significant national day in support of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing.
At JCTS, we believe that all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a right to culturally safe and responsive health care, free of racism and inequity.
Despite a number of improvements in the health care system, substantial disparities still remain in many health outcomes between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous Australians.
Our vision ‘strong communities and healthy futures through embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways in GP Training’ strongly aligns to the outcomes and targets of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
Our goal is to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to deliver best practice GP training in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, ensuring generations thrive, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander doctors are nurtured and grown, and every GP is equipped to provide culturally safe health care.
JCTS also has a role to play in helping to build the community-controlled sector to ensure there are sustainable, high-quality services to meet the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the country. JCTS provides comprehensive support to Aboriginal community-controlled health organisations (ACCHOs) to ensure that all GP Registrars undertaking a placement in an ACCHS are fully supported and have access to a Cultural Educator and/or a Cultural Mentor.
We believe that access to timely health services combined with the provision of culturally safe care in all primary healthcare settings is essential. The GP workforce are a pivotal part of the health and wellbeing of remote and rural communities. GPs working in these communities understand the importance of early identification of health issues and local referral pathways are vital to keeping community on Country or closer to family for better health outcomes.
This Close the Gap Day, join us in advocating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health equality within a generation.
Visit the Close the Gap campaign for information about how you can get involved.
