In 2022 the Commonwealth Government released the Closing the Gap Annual Report. This is the first report since the 2020 National Agreement on Closing the Gap (National Agreement) was signed. Central to the development of the National Partnership was the inclusion of the Priority Reform Areas. While implementation of the National Agreement continues, unsurprisingly the most recent data confirms that despite improvements across the health sector, health outcomes remain comparatively worse for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The Campaign reaffirms that the inclusion of the priority reform areas, set the pre-conditions to achieve socioeconomic targets and provide the potential to drive generational change for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Australia. A fundamental principle of the National Agreement is to create measurable improvements in the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities. It is a whole of government responsibility to create systems reform, that shares decision making power with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This is essential to achieving health equity and equality.

The Campaign supports the Uluru Statement from the Heart, and the National Voice as vehicles for partnership and self-determination to achieving practical health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities. The Truth-telling and Treaty elements are critical to the healing and social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and communities. They serve as a foundation for healing intergenerational trauma and restoring a greater sense of collective control. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership continues to create opportunities for success, but there must be a concerted effort to create an enabling environment for change to deliver meaningful outcomes.

This report documents, through eight case studies, organisations and individuals work in communities to enrich the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and youth. One of the most encouraging aspects of these case studies is the way in which they detail and have drawn on self-determination to address some of the most important issues identified in the communities they work with. Many showcase the leadership of a new generation of hands-on activists, while others demonstrate how a focus on young people’s key concerns and aspirations can be a powerful engine for positive change. Importantly, they draw attention to the essential role of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led decision-making and self-determination in shaping a vision of health and wellbeing built upon a strong cultural foundation.