More than 150 people attended Bairnsdale Regional Health Service’s (BRHS) Close the Gap Day community event last Thursday.
Close the Gap Day is an annual calendar date that acknowledges progress to reduce inequities between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians.
For BRHS its part in closing the cap is to reduce significant differences in health outcomes between Indigenous people and other Australians.
BRHS places a heavy emphasis on closing the gap between the health outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians.
In recent years, BRHS has developed arrange of initiatives to support this aim.
They include:
– Koori Heart Health Kits
– Warm introductions, in which a member of our Aboriginal Health Unit introduces a client with heart issues to our Cardiac Care nurses
– Culture at the Heart, a pilot program in which our team works with the Moogji Aboriginal Trust in Orbost, with support from the Gippsland Primary Health Network and Safer Care, to take cardiac rehabilitation on the road to hold education sessions, cultural activities and physical activities On Country, and
– A forthcoming maternity pack for new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers.
BRHS acting chief executive officer Kathy Kinrade said the community event opens BRHS’ doors to Indigenous people, and all East Gippsland people, allowing them to chat to BRHS staff and representatives from Aboriginal groups and see the work her team does to close the gap.
She said significant gaps still exist for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in healthy equality and other areas, and that addressing those is an ongoing process.
“For far too long, our First Nations people have faced disparities in health, education, employment and access to opportunities,” she told the gathering.
“These gaps are not just statistics — they are real, lived experiences for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, communities, and individuals. As a nation, and as an organisation, we have a responsibility to take meaningful action to address these inequities.”
Gippsland and East Gippsland Aboriginal Cooperative dental nurse Judy-Anne Alexander, known across the community as JA, provided a Welcome to Country for guests.
Uncle Keith Solomon and a young protege from children’s dance group Cultural Connect played the didgeridoo ahead of Cultural Connect’s performance.
The event was attended by Aboriginal elders and local Aboriginal groups including Yoowinna Wurnalung Aboriginal Healing Service in Lakes Entrance and GEGAC.
Auntie Helen Morgan, who established the BRHS Aboriginal Health Unit in 1982, cut the Close the Gap Cake accompanied by her son Adrian, known universally as Ringo.
BRHS’ facilities team set up marquees that warded off incoming rain, and Food Services staff baked a Close the Gap cake, cupcakes and pastries for guests. Lions Club of Bairnsdale members were hard at work at the barbecue.
