21 March 2024

Today marks National Close the Gap Day, a day that advocates for health equity of Australia's Indigenous Australians and educating the public about the health issues and barriers to well-being faced by them.

The National Agreement on Closing the Gap has 17 national socio-economic targets across areas that have an impact on life outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.

One of those targets set out by the National Agreement on Closing the Gap is to Close the Gap in life expectancy within a generation, by 2031. Currently, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males and females born in 2020–2022 are expected to live eight years less than non-Indigenous Australians.

To honour this day, we sat down with Kyralee Murray, one of our Aboriginal Health Liaison Officers who is committed to closing the gap, to find out more about her work.

Kyralee is a proud Koorie and Murri woman, with mobs from along the Murray River Yorta Yorta, Mutti Mutti and Wamba Wamba and Wakka , Gunggari from Queensland in land from Brisbane. Kyralee grew up in Traralgon on Gunai/Kurnai Country.

How did you decide to become an Aboriginal Health Liaison Officer?

I’ve always had an interest in Health and had a short experience at university enrolled in Bachelor of Public Health and health promotion. I moved back from Queensland and wanted to move into the health workspace within my community.

What does National Close the Gap Day mean to you?

This day to me is showing importance and having space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to gain self-determination, and wider Australia showing they understand the health gap is there and Aboriginal health needs to be acknowledged by all.

What are some of the parts you enjoy most in your role?

Yarning with mob that I visit. I learn so much from some yarns and feel more connected to my culture/community.

I can sit with a respected Elder in community and have them give wisdom and tell me their journey and feel inspired and comforted.

Which Austin Health value do you feel you live out daily in your work?

Our actions show we care- is the Austin value I feel I contribute to within my role. Time and respect I feel goes hand in hand with this value due to mob wanting people to show through actions staff took time to listen too patients.

In a year from now, what is the one most important thing you would like to achieve in your role?

Having positive ongoing engagement with patients and having mob feel comfortable to look after their health and ask wider Austin Health staff for help without barriers.