Recently, the Oorala Aboriginal Centre hosted an event for UNE’s participation in the national ‘Close the Gap’ campaign held annually in April.
Close the Gap is a strategy that aims to reduce Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander disadvantage with respect to life expectancy, child mortality, access to early childhood education, educational achievement and employment outcomes. ‘Close the Gap’ events are held annually around Australia to raise awareness on achievements and further contributions to be made towards improving outcomes in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
L-R: Gregory Davison (Oorala Director), Gary Wallace, Destiny Powell, Paul Dunn, Colin Ahoy, Associate Professor Keita Takayama, Tamika King and Steven Ahoy
Oorala’s event involved a number of presentations focusing on local and university efforts to address challenges faced in the areas of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and education.
Presenters included four students studying in the TRACKS tertiary preparation course (Tamika King, Colin Ahoy, Paul Dunn and Steven Ahoy), Associate Professor Keita Takayama from UNE’s School of Education, two medical students (Gary Wallace and Destiny Powell) and Director of the Oorala Aboriginal Centre, Greg Davison.
Presenters highlighted the need for genuine and measurable actions to bring about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and education equality. TRACKS students called for more targeted and appropriate health services for Aboriginal people in Armidale and increased education about Aboriginal history and culture in our schools. This was a theme mirrored by Gary Wallace and Destiny Powell who emphasised the importance of culturally appropriate care and advocated the inclusion of Aboriginal healing models in approaches to health care for Aboriginal patients. Associate Professor Takayama discussed the results of a recent survey of current and former Indigenous students in UNE’s Teacher Education degrees. Results from the survey, which was funded through a grant by the More Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Teachers Initiative (MATSITI), highlighted the crucial role that Oorala Aboriginal Centre plays in the support of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teacher education students and the need for greater cultural awareness amongst academic and professional staff at the School. The seminar concluded with an address by Gregory Davison, Director of the Oorala Aboriginal Centre. Summing up the presentations he emphasised that ambitious goals and strong commitments were needed to address the inequality in health and education outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The Seminar presentations were followed by a light lunch where the over 80 participants continued the conversation.