2026 Close the Gap Campaign Report – Community Voices: The Pathway to Justice, Equality and Healing
This report from the Close the Gap Campaign examines why progress on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and life outcomes remains slow, despite years of government commitments. It argues that public sector reform and stronger laws are needed to make change real and lasting. Useful for policymakers, practitioners, funders and community organisations working in Indigenous health and social justice.
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The 2026 Close the Gap Campaign Report is produced by a national coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and health sector bodies. It looks at where Australia is at with closing the gap in health and life outcomes between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians. The report covers policy analysis, data on progress against national targets and nine community-led case studies from across Australia.
The report makes a clear case for why structural and legislative reform is needed, not just policy commitment. It examines the role of the public sector in driving or blocking change, and puts forward ten practical recommendations for government action. Readers will come away with a strong understanding of what the barriers to progress are and what needs to happen to overcome them.
The case studies show real examples of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led programs achieving meaningful outcomes across health, housing, employment, justice and healing. They give the report's policy arguments a practical grounding and demonstrate what becomes possible when communities control their own solutions.
This report is relevant to anyone who wants to understand the current state of Indigenous health equity in Australia, including policymakers, practitioners, funders and community organisations.
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