"A Lot, A Lot, A Lot." Holly Fazulla On How To Close The Gap

What is Closing the Gap?   

In 2007, the Close the Gap Campaign began. One year later, Kevin Rudd apologised to the Aboriginal people and the targets of the campaign were presented to the public. Governments agreed to seven targets to help close the gaps in health, education, and employment. Over ten years later, only four targets are on track including child mortality rates, and enrolments to early childhood education. Progress on other targets are varied. We must accelerate progress to meet the targets of Close the Gap.

 How can we Close the Gap?

This year Ngutu college Karra/high school went to closing the gap day on the 21 March 2024 and here I interview a person for SHINE SA named Holly Fazulla. she teaches sexual health and relationships wellbeing to doctors and nurses and midwifes about aboriginal sexual health. In her interview she talks about what needs to change and how she helps to close the gap. She stated, "I help to close the gap by working as an Aboriginal health practitioner and I teach doctors, nurses and midwifes about Aboriginal health." When asked what needs to be done to help close the gap Holly said, "a lot a lot a lot a lot a lot a lot a lot a lot a lot more funding" she also stated that "we need to raise the age for incarceration, have better health services, better education and more."   

What can you do to close the gap?

Holly Fazulla taught me that every step we make towards improving Aboriginal health and wellbeing matters. From water to food, to housing, and medical attention – every step needs support. To help with this, you can put pressure on the government, help fund Aboriginal businesses, and give support to Aboriginal people, to name a few.