Indigenous leadership in pandemic delivers a blueprint to Close the Gap

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and people have been hailed for their world-leading response to the coronavirus pandemic which left First Nations communities largely unscathed. Oscar was launching the 2021 Close the Gap Report, Leadership and legacy through crises: keeping our mob safe, which showcases the strengths of Indigenous responses to the coronavirus pandemic, devastating 2019-20 bushfires and climate change, and to mental health trauma. Reversing the gap“In this report we proudly showcase our strengths, our culture, our leadership and our legacy,” said Oscar, who is co-chair of the Close the Gap Campaign. An estimated 444 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have died since in custody but disproportionate incarceration rates may even be increasing. See also Croakey’s Twitter threads of the event/report: Dr Melissa Sweet, Marie McInerneyDeclaration: Marie McInerney does casual writing and editing work for Lowitja Institute and contributed to the Close the Gap report.