TASK DESCRIPTION
Closing the Gap in health equality between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians is an agreed national priority.
The nation wants continued focus and action in order to close the unacceptable health and life expectancy gap.
All political parties have committed to end the health equality gap by 2030, supported by almost 200,000 Australians who made the pledge.
Over the five-year period (2005-2007 to 2010-2012), life expectancy is estimated to have increased by 1.6 years for males and by 0.6 of a year for females. But a life expectancy gap of around ten years remains for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people when compared with non-Indigenous people.

Australian Human Rights Commission. (2015). 2015 Close the gap Federal budget position paper. Retrieved from
https://www.humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/2015%20CTG%20Federal%20Budget%20position%20paper%20FINAL.pdf

The goal of inclusive practice is to be aware of, and responsive to, the needs of all people (De Chesnay, 2005, p. 18), and to provide health care based on the principles of social justice (Royal College of Nursing [RCN], 2008). In this context it means that as health professionals we also work to understand and break down barriers of inequality in access to health care. Our goal is to improve the health of all people, irrespective of their background, culture or beliefs.

YOUR TASK IN TWO PARTS-
1. First collect two current on-line or print news articles on Closing the Gap, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ health. Critique each article and discuss how it relates to inclusive practice and equity in health care.

2. Then you are to then critically examine, and provide evidence of the impact of Australian health policy and healthcare practices on health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Specifically you are choose three of the Close the Gap targets and strategies that have been put into place to achieve these targets.

YOUR ASSESSMENT WILL BE MARKED ON THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA-
-Structure
-Approach and argument
-Referencing

INSTRUCTIONS TO STUDENTS
When addressing the assignment topic you will need to use contemporary literature (mostly <5 years) to support your discussion.
It is expected that you will write in the third person, read widely around the topic and correctly reference your paper using the APA 6th edition referencing style.
Please note: referencing constitutes 15% of the overall grade for this assessment.

A 2000 word limit has been set for this assignment. A 10% leeway on either side of the word limit will be accepted. Word count will be measured from the first word of the introduction to the last word of the conclusion and include in-text referencing. Not included in the word count are the contents page and reference list.

To help scaffold your assessment you should allow approximately 10% (150-200 words) each for the introduction and conclusion, 200 words each for the news articles, which leaves 1200 words for the body.

Both news articles must be attached as appendices to your assignment.

Submit your Assessment Task 1 by the due date. Please include a cover page with student name, student number, course code, term date and year, name of course coordinator, name of assignment, and due date for submission. Remember to include a header with your student name and student number, and footer with the page numbers.

TASK DESCRIPTION
Closing the Gap in health equality between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians is an agreed national priority.
The nation wants continued focus and action in order to close the unacceptable health and life expectancy gap.
All political parties have committed to end the health equality gap by 2030, supported by almost 200,000 Australians who made the pledge.
Over the five-year period (2005-2007 to 2010-2012), life expectancy is estimated to have increased by 1.6 years for males and by 0.6 of a year for females. But a life expectancy gap of around ten years remains for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people when compared with non-Indigenous people.

Australian Human Rights Commission. (2015). 2015 Close the gap Federal budget position paper. Retrieved from
https://www.humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/2015%20CTG%20Federal%20Budget%20position%20paper%20FINAL.pdf

The goal of inclusive practice is to be aware of, and responsive to, the needs of all people (De Chesnay, 2005, p. 18), and to provide health care based on the principles of social justice (Royal College of Nursing [RCN], 2008). In this context it means that as health professionals we also work to understand and break down barriers of inequality in access to health care. Our goal is to improve the health of all people, irrespective of their background, culture or beliefs.

YOUR TASK IN TWO PARTS-
1. First collect two current on-line or print news articles on Closing the Gap, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ health. Critique each article and discuss how it relates to inclusive practice and equity in health care.

2. Then you are to then critically examine, and provide evidence of the impact of Australian health policy and healthcare practices on health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Specifically you are choose three of the Close the Gap targets and strategies that have been put into place to achieve these targets.

YOUR ASSESSMENT WILL BE MARKED ON THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA-
-Structure
-Approach and argument
-Referencing

INSTRUCTIONS TO STUDENTS
When addressing the assignment topic you will need to use contemporary literature (mostly <5 years) to support your discussion.
It is expected that you will write in the third person, read widely around the topic and correctly reference your paper using the APA 6th edition referencing style.
Please note: referencing constitutes 15% of the overall grade for this assessment.

A 2000 word limit has been set for this assignment. A 10% leeway on either side of the word limit will be accepted. Word count will be measured from the first word of the introduction to the last word of the conclusion and include in-text referencing. Not included in the word count are the contents page and reference list.

To help scaffold your assessment you should allow approximately 10% (150-200 words) each for the introduction and conclusion, 200 words each for the news articles, which leaves 1200 words for the body.

Both news articles must be attached as appendices to your assignment.

Submit your Assessment Task 1 by the due date. Please include a cover page with student name, student number, course code, term date and year, name of course coordinator, name of assignment, and due date for submission. Remember to include a header with your student name and student number, and footer with the page numbers.