Thursday 17 March marked National Close the Gap Day. This year’s theme was ‘Transforming Power: Aboriginal and Torres Strait-Islander-led Transformation, Gender Equality and Allyship’. In recognition of this important date, the Uralla Club sought to facilitate staff and student awareness of the health challenges facing Indigenous communities today.
We set up an information stall outside C block, outlining some facts and figures about Indigenous health in Australia, and handed out complimentary stickers. Staff and students were also invited to sign the Close the Gap petition to encourage the state and federal government to take more meaningful action on improving Indigenous health. After School, we viewed Take Heart: Deadly Heart, a short film with an important message about the debilitating and entirely preventable disease called Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD). Thousands of First Nations people lose their lives to this disease each year despite its eradication in other developed nations. Importantly, the film also introduced the measures being taken within communities to help prevent RHD, which reflects this year’s NCTGD theme of ‘Transforming Power’. Unsurprisingly, evidence shows that when governments allow First Nations peoples to lead and deliver their own healthcare, the health outcomes for their people are significantly improved.
Indigenous allies can help close this gap too by raising awareness and educating people within their own communities. To find out more about how allies can help make an impact, please follow this link.
Thank you to all who visited our stall and attended the viewing of Take Heart: Deadly Heart. Remember that it’s never too late to join Uralla, if you missed the viewing and want to learn more, come along to our weekly meetings, held during lunchtime on Mondays in C410.
Overall, a big thank you to everyone who made this day possible, specifically the captains, Simran Mackrani (12H) and Ella Sinclair (12G), as well as our teacher coordinators, Ms Hills and Ms Garson, and all our wonderfully committed and passionate Uralla Club members.
Jasmin Burgess (10E) and Sargun Virk (10W)
Amelia DeSouza (12R), Kit Leach (12O) and Simran Mackrani (12H)
