National Close the Gap day /

National Close the Gap Day: The Third Thursday of March.

What is National Close the Gap Day?

National Close the Gap Day is held annually on the third Thursday of March. This year it is held on the 21st of March. It is a day of action aimed at closing the gap in health outcomes between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and all other Australians.

The Steering Committee first met in March 2006. Their campaign was launched in April 2007 by patrons Catherine Freeman OAM and Ian Thorpe OAM. In 2007 the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) set measurable targets to track and assess developments in the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. These targets included achieving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health equality within a generation and halving the mortality rate gap for children under five years old within a decade.

Every year, Australians are encouraged to hold their own event on National Close the Gap Day to raise awareness about the life expectancy gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and all other Australians.

Please click here to view what is in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

Get Involved

There are a range of events and activities that are held across the country, including marches, rallies, and community gatherings. These events are designed to bring attention to the need for urgent action to close the gap in health outcomes, and to promote greater understanding and reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and all other Australians.

For more information on National Close the Gap Day