Close the Gap Day: what does it mean for ECEC, and how should it be acknowledged?

National Close the Gap Day is observed annually on the third Thursday of March, and is a day for advocates in the Australian community to acknowledge and participate in education and awareness raising about the inequities faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. 

 

Acknowledged since 2007, National Close the Gap Day encourages individuals and organisations to plan ways in which they can acknowledge and show support for the First Nations community around healthy equity. 

 

In an early childhood education and care (ECEC) context, health equity is an important concern, with First Nations children aged between birth and 14 years of age having had an ear or hearing problem at 2.3 times the rate of non First Nations children (6.9 per cent compared with 3 per cent) and with the rate of stillbirths higher (11.9 deaths per 1,000 births) than the non-Indigenous average (7.4 per cent per 1,000 births).

 

There are a number of ways ECEC services can get involved in National Close the Gap Day, such as: 

 

• Invite people to the ECEC service to acknowledge Close the Gap Day
• Sign the Close the Gap pledge
• Register any Close the Gap activity to create interest, and download online resources to support the activity
• Connect with local members and advocate for children in the context of Closing the Gap
• Listen to and share stories of First Nations people
• Share photos and stories on social media using the hashtag #ClosetheGap.

 

A number of community events are taking place today including workplace morning teas, sports days, school events and public events in hospitals and offices around the country with tens of thousands of people taking part each year.

 

“Each activity plays an important role. By spreading the word, collecting pledges and showing your support, you will help hold governments to account on their commitment towards health equality for all Australians,” a spokesperson said.