National Close the Gap Day 2015
Thursday 19th March marks National Close the Gap Day and a number of Broken Hill organisations will once again join together to hold a National Close the Gap Day activity in the Town Square.
Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation will have a stand with a healthy BBQ, free give-aways, show bags, health information and dental resources, and there will be blood glucose and blood pressure checks.
Maari Ma Manager Community Services and Programs, Justin Files, said the event helps to raise awareness of Indigenous disadvantage and support of National Close the Gap Day helps governments to prioritise Indigenous health.
Mr Files said Maari Ma believes a significant part of the efforts to Close the Gap is constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the nation's first people.
“Last week Maari Ma joined Australia’s leading medical groups in Canberra to call for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to be recognised in the country's founding document, as a way to improve health outcomes.
“Maari Ma is a signatory to the joint statement calling on Australians to support constitutional recognition. The Lowitja Institute, a national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research organisation, has coordinated the signatories” he said.
Maari Ma also recently released a new report which monitors the health, development and well-being of Aboriginal children and young people in far west New South Wales.
The report is an important indicator for Maari Ma and all service providers in the region regarding the work being done to close the gap for Aboriginal people when it comes to children.
The Close the Gap Day event in Broken Hill’s Town Square next Thursday will start at 10.00am and continue until 2.00pm.
Mr Files is encouraging as many people as possible to join in and show support, talk about and help spread the word about improving Indigenous health.
ENDS
13 March 2015
Available for interview Friday 20th March
Maari Ma Manager Community Services and Programs, Justin Files.
Available for interview to talk about the event in the Town Square,
Healthy Lifestyle Worker, Shannon Oats.
After 4pm Tuesday 17th March and Wednesday 18th March
Tel: 08 8082 9888