Discuss the benefits for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people being registered for the various programs within the CTG on their access to healthcare and their short- and long-term health outcomes.

Transgenerational trauma| Bachleor of Nursing

Closing the Gap is an initiative led by the Australian government to address disparities between Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous Australians in terms of health and life-expectancy. The CTG program offers many benefits to Indigenous communities. This is especially true in regards to accessing healthcare. Quality healthcare can improve physical and mental well-being, such as: improved nutrition; mental health support and care; infant mortality reduction; maternal care improvements; and increased employment and education opportunities.

Research also shows that registration in these programs leads to shorter-term improvements, including fewer hospitalizations for those registered and lower mortality rates compared to the non-registered. Furthermore, it contributes towards long-term health outcomes like decreased risk factors associated with lifestyle diseases—such as diabetes, heart disease or obesity—and improved overall quality of life. It also includes improved housing through plans for home-ownership or rental assistance offered by the program.

CTG’s overall goal is to close health gaps between Indigenous and non Indigenous Australians. This can be achieved by improving access to healthcare along with providing other tangible benefits, such as housing support.