Improving Health for ATSI Communities

A range of targeted actions have been implemented to improve the health status of Aboriginal and

Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) peoples and Australians living in rural and remote areas,

with varying degrees of success. For ATSI communities, initiatives like the Close the Gap

campaign and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2021–2031 have

promoted intersectoral collaboration and culturally appropriate care, leading to improvements

in early childhood education and reduced youth detention. According to the AIHW (2025),

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples still experience a life expectancy gap of 8.6 years

for men and 7.8 years for women compared to non-Indigenous Australians.