The 2026 Close the Gap Report highlights the leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities in driving solutions that improve health and wellbeing, while cautioning that progress remains uneven.
The Community Voices: The Pathway to Justice, Equality and Healing report released today has found that without enforceable accountability across government systems, including health and medical education, progress on long‑term health equity will remain vulnerable and slow.
In response, the report calls for legislative reform and moving beyond policy promises, towards genuine power‑sharing by embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights and leadership in the government decision‑making.
These reforms are essential in enhancing health outcomes and strengthening the systems that train and support the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce.
The Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association (AIDA) has this week welcomed the National Health Reform Agreement’s (NHRA) Schedule B addendum. This mechanism embeds the responsibility for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health outcomes within Australia’s core health funding and governance arrangements which is an important step forward in creating systemic accountability.
The latest Closing the Gap report outlines the evidence base and rationale for health sector reform, the integration of Schedule B: Better Outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples into the NHRA provides the funding and system levers to begin that implementation.
The report clearly points to systemic issues beyond individual services or programs, according to AIDA’s Chief Executive Officer Dr Peter Malouf.
“Closing the Gap will not be achieved by promises alone. It requires structural reform, shared power, and governments that are accountable to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities,” Dr Malouf said.
“The report provides strong evidence that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-led initiatives lead to positive outcomes. This evidence now demands a proportionate response through legislative backing and structural reform. Racism within the medical training environment, including the specialist training pipeline, must be addressed directly if equity, retention and Indigenous leadership in health are to be realised in practice.”
Close the Gap Campaign Co‑Chair Karl Briscoe said the report demonstrates the impact of this leadership across Communities.
“We are proud to showcase the outstanding work of organisations and their leadership, who are leading reform and delivering results for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities. Their commitment to self‑determination and culturally grounded solutions demonstrates what is possible when Communities drive change and shape their own future,” Mr Briscoe said.
As the peak professional body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander doctors and medical students, AIDA is working to deliver culturally grounded solutions for our First Nations medical workforce including how doctors are trained, supported and retained within the health care system.
AIDA currently leads the Leaders in Indigenous Medical Education (LIME) program aimed at creating impactful and sustained transformation within the medical education sector. We also work with all GP and non-GP specialist colleges to support the growth of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical workforce through AIDA’s Specialist Trainee Support Program.
The Close the Gap Report also reinforces that health outcomes are shaped by broader social, cultural and environmental determinants including inadequate housing. Holistic approaches to wellbeing, centring family, culture, and Country are reiterated as vital to closing the health gap.
AIDA supports the report’s urgent call for legislative and public sector reform to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights and leadership are recognised and protected in law, strengthen accountability mechanisms, and ensure the National Agreement on Closing the Gap delivers measurable and long-lasting change for our Communities.
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About AIDA
The Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association (AIDA) is the peak professional body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander doctors and medical students. AIDA’s purpose is to strengthen the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical workforce, from students to specialists, through advocacy, leadership, and cultural mentorship.
We also continue to work towards and advocate for a culturally safe Australian healthcare system, free from racism, and with accountability measures in place. Our vision is that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have self-determination and equitable health and life outcomes in a culturally safe health system.
19 Mar 2026
Media Release