Staff, students, Aboriginal community members and people from the Illawarra community descended on the University of Wollongong for National Close the Gap Day.
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Thursday's event also reaffirmed UOW's commitment to the campaign which continues to place the spotlight on the disparity between non-Indigenous and Indigenous people in regards to health, education, employment and social justice.
The gathering also highlighted the need for everyone to work together to address the inequality.
Associate Professor Peter Malouf, Academic Leader, Indigenous Health in the School of Medicine, said Close the Gap was an important campaign that raised awareness about the work that needed to be done in bridging the education, social, and health divide between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.
Professor Malouf acknowledged the concerted effort local community-controlled services and community members had achieved in narrowing the gap in child mortality, early education and year 12 attainment rates.
"We know that our local Aboriginal services and programs are doing their best, but they need to be better funded to continue community-led solutions to close the gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians within a generation by 2023," he said.
UOW Graduate Medicine, the Indigenous Health Unit and Woolyungah Indigenous Centre hosted the special event which focused on the theme of "Strength, Collaboration and Resilience".
Now in its 12th year, Close the Gap is a government strategy that aims to reduce disadvantage among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
It is focused on addressing issues related to life expectancy, child mortality, access to early childhood education, educational achievement and employment outcomes.
The campaign aims to level the playing field, ensuring that by 2030, any Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child born in Australia has the same opportunity as non-Indigenous children to live a long, healthy life.