The ADC welcomes the release of the Close the Gap campaign report 2021

The Australian Dental Council (ADC) welcomes the release of the Close the Gap campaign report 2021, Leadership and Legacy Through Crises: Keeping our Mob Safe.

Released as part of National Closing the Gap Day, the report provides 15 recommendations for large scale systemic reform to protect the health, wellbeing, culture and Country of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

Through the report, Closing the Gap Campaign Co-Chairs June Oscar AO and Karl Briscoe highlight the importance of using the lived experience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners in addressing the continued health disparities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Using the COVID-19 pandemic as an example, the report highlights how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health leaders were able to successfully delivery collective, culturally informed and localised solutions for their communities. As a result, the number of COVID-19 cases among First Nations Peoples was six times lower than the rest of Australia.

The ADC understands the value of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices throughout our decision-making processes. We continue to seek Indigenous representation on our Board, committees and working parties to ensure their voices are considered in our decision-making processes.

We aim to use our position to strive towards better health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and are committed to keeping you up to date on our work in this space. Our CEO, Narelle Mills, continues her active participation as a member of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Strategy Group for the Scheme.

Leadership and Legacy Through Crises: Keeping our Mob Safe: Close the Gap campaign report 2021 is available to download here.