The ADC welcomes the release of the 2022 Close the Gap Campaign report

The Australian Dental Council welcomes the release of the 2022 Closing the Gap Campaign Report, Transforming Power: Voices for Generational Change.

Released each year on National Closing the Gap Day this year’s report focuses on some of the hundreds of stories that demonstrate the success of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led initiatives.

In their forward, Close the Gap Campaign Co-Chairs, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, June Oscar AO and Karl Briscoe, CEO of the National Association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners highlight that this year’s report reinforces what we already know. They identify that to adequately address the extreme, but preventable inequalities that First Nations People experience, we must first draw on the knowledge and experience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

In recognition of this, the report’s recommendations are consistent with previous years and highlights that implementation of these recommendations is necessary to pursue the large scale systemic reform which recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership and ensures self-determination.

At the ADC, we have started our journey of reform, and we know that large-scale systemic reform is essential to ensure agency of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to determine future outcomes for communities. We know that we have a lot of work, and a lot of learning ahead of us, and that having First Nations People’s voices at the centre of this process is pivotal to its success.

We are committed to ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices in our decision making, and throughout our work. This includes the representation of First Nations Peoples on our Board, Committees, and Working Parties, including our Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group.

Outside of this, the ADC continues to be an active participant in groups and committees dedicated towards achieving better health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Our CEO, Narelle Mills, continues to be an active participant in Ahpra’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Strategy Group for the National Scheme.

We will continue to use our position to pursue large-scale systemic reform in policy design and delivery and are committed to keeping you updated on our work in this space.

The 2022 Closing the Gap Campaign report, Transforming Power: Voices for Generational Change is available to download via the Australian Human Rights Commission website.