The College proudly supports Indigenous health through the work of the ACEM Foundation and the IHSC, including:

  • embedding Indigenous Health and Cultural Competency (IHCC) in the Curriculum Framework for ACEM training,
  • provision and promotion of the IHCC eLearning resources,
  • running the Promoting Cultural Safety Program,
  • accreditation of Indigenous Health Special Skills posts for rural health,
  • resources for Indigenous careers in Emergency Medicine,
  • Indigenous scholarships,
  • ACEM trainee Mentorship programs, and
  • associations with the Australian Indigenous Doctors Association (AIDA), The LIME Network and The Lowitja Institute. 

All emergency departments are encouraged to continuously promote, advance and improve Indigenous health across their organisation. Last year, there were more than 1100 separate National Close the Gap Day events across Australia, ranging from workplace morning teas, public events in hospitals and offices to local community events.

What is Close the Gap?

As a whole, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience disproportionate levels of disadvantage and poorer health compared to other Australians. The Close the Gap program is an Indigenous health priority for the Council of Australian Governments (COAG). 

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can expect to live 10–17 years less than other Australians.
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience higher rates of preventable illness such as heart disease, kidney disease and diabetes.
  • Babies born to Aboriginal mothers die at more than twice the rate of other Australian babies.
  • The mortality rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is on par with some of the world’s most impoverished nations.
 

The Close The Gap program aims to halve or close the gap on:

  • Life expectancy
  • Childhood mortality (< 5 years age)
  • Early childhood education
  • Reading writing and numerac
  • Attainment of Year 12 completion
  • Employment outcomes.

What can you do?

DEMTs and DEMs are encouraged to support Indigenous health through:

  • provision of education on Indigenous health
  • promotion of culturally competent and safe practices
  • health advocacy for Indigenous patients, and
  • identification and utilisation of organisational and community resource links to Indigenous health services.

Resources have been posted to the DEMT forum for your access.

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