Closing the Gap: Tackling Chronic Disease

The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) has pledged to develop and implement coordinated strategies to address the key causes and determinants of Indigenous disadvantage, and has agreed six high level targets for closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

In support of this work, COAG has agreed to the $1.6 billion National Partnership Agreement on Closing the Gap in Indigenous Health Outcomes (NPA). The Commonwealth's contribution to the NPA is an $805.5 million Chronic Disease Package that will change the way the Australian health care system prevents, treats and manages the chronic diseases that shorten so many Indigenous Australians' lives.

The Chronic Disease Package aims to reduce key risk factors for chronic disease in the Indigenous community such as smoking, improve chronic disease management and follow up, and increase the capacity of the primary care workforce to deliver effective care to Indigenous Australians with chronic diseases.

The Commonwealth's Implementation Plan was endorsed by the Australian Health Ministers' Conference on 4 September 2009.

You can view the Commonwealth's Implementation Plan by clicking on the following link.
Commonwealth Implementation Plan (PDF 430 KB)
Access the individual State and Territory Implementation Plans here.

For information about the Australian Government’s Chronic Disease Package please click on the following link:
Tackling Chronic Disease Booklet (PDF 418 KB) or email: ICDP@health.gov.au

If you are unable to access the PDF document/s, please email OATSIH Enquiries or phone 02 6289 5291.