Lowitja Institute

Australia's only Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled health research institute

[Lowitja Institute @LowitjaInstitut]

We are no longer posting from this account. Please follow Lowitja Institute on our Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn channels for news, events, and updates on our work.

[Lowitja Institute @LowitjaInstitut]

Thank you Croakey Health Media for your awesome coverage of #Lowitja2025 - check out Assoc. Prof.
@SummerMayFinlay's video interviews with Professor Rauna Kuokkanen, Scott Avery, Professor Ian Anderson, Xavier and Genus Passi and much more.
@CroakeyNews
https://t.co/CMZ5dUSYXg

[Lowitja Institute @LowitjaInstitut]

Consider the gift of a donation to the Lowitja O’Donoghue Foundation before 30 June. All donations of $2 and over are tax-deductible, and support our work in honour of the legacy of the late Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue AC CBE DSG. Find out more: https://t.co/ZdW27mOxxq

[Lowitja Institute @LowitjaInstitut]

Thank you for coming to #Lowitja2025 – what an incredible week of sharing Indigenous knowledges as we gathered Strong, Fearless, Together with 1377 delegates from 11 countries; 230+ presentations; 80 posters; 16 sponsors; 29 exhibitors; 17 market stalls and 7 Award winners.

[Lowitja Institute @LowitjaInstitut]

This week is our 4th International Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Conference. You can follow all the action on our other social media channels:

Instagram: @lowitja_institute

Facebook: @ The Lowitja Institute

LinkedIn: Lowitja Institute

[Lowitja Institute @LowitjaInstitut]

Our CEO Paul Stewart raised an intervention on Advancing Indigenous Data Sovereignty Globally during the twenty-fourth session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, at UN Headquarters, New York.

Read the full intervention: https://t.co/qDqWZvtwuO

[Lowitja Institute @LowitjaInstitut]

Congratulations to VACCA on receiving a 2024 Major Research Grant.

Its project is helping transform Victoria's child welfare system from a state-led system to an Aboriginal Community of Care model centred on culture, self-determination, human rights, and the rights of children.

[Lowitja Institute @LowitjaInstitut]

Lowitja Institute is privileged to be attending the twenty-fourth session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, at UN Headquarters, New York.

Pictured (L-to-R) our Deputy CEO Michael Newman, Board Chair Craig Ritchie, and CEO Paul Stewart.

[Lowitja Institute @LowitjaInstitut]

Last Thursday the Lowitja Institute team attended the launch of the Close the Gap Campaign Report 2025, hosted at the Aborigines Advancement League.

You can read the new report here: https://t.co/AHm97iMlS3

[Croakey News @CroakeyNews]

@gedkearney @AlboMP @closethegapOZ Hearing now from Paul Stewart, CEO @LowitjaInstitut which has again produced this year's #CloseTheGap report for @closethegapOZ. The institute's primary focus is to put Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the driver’s seat, particularly when it comes to research.

[ClosetheGap 🖤 💛 ❤️ Campaign 💙 💚 @closethegapOZ]

. @briscoe_karl Our Close the Gap Campaign 2025 Annual Report, highlights Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership in closing the gap

This year’s themes of agency, leadership, and reform underscore the pivotal role Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders and communities continue to play in embedding the four Priority Reform Areas outlined in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

The Close the Gap Campaign has released its annual report, emphasising both the ongoing challenges and the tangible solutions needed to close the health and wellbeing gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The report showcases how the closing the gap priority reform areas are being implemented to create lasting change.

A central focus of this year’s report is the success of First Nations leaders who are actively shaping solutions and paving the way to close the gap. These leaders and their organisations have shown steadfast commitment to advancing the rights and aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities-ensuring the survival, dignity and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians.

“We are proud to share this report, which not only highlights the achievements made in the pursuit of equity and justice but also reinforces the importance of continuing to elevate Indigenous voices,” said Karl Briscoe, Co-Chair of Close the Gap.

‘ This campaign, our work, is about amplifying and championing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led solutions and showing how our leadership is the key to achieving genuine, sustainable reform.”.

Briscoe’s sentiments were echoed by fellow Close the Gap Co-Chair, Commissioner Katie Kiss, who also stressed the significance of holding governments accountable for their commitments.

“Our recommendations in this report are clear,” Kiss stated. “We urge all levels of government to fulfill their obligations under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

This landmark policy initiative is the most comprehensive to date, aimed at delivering improved outcomes across critical health and wellbeing indicators for First Nations peoples. All state and territory governments have signed onto the National Agreement, and they must be held accountable for its implementation.”

The Close the Gap Campaign report underscores the importance of building an enabling environment at the departmental and agency level, where the targets set by the National Agreement can be effectively achieved at the local level. According to Commissioner Kiss, without the proper framework, progress will remain stagnated.

“Through their collective efforts, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have made meaningful strides. However, there is still much more to be done to ensure that the health and wellbeing of First Nations peoples are truly prioritised.” she added.

As the Close the Gap Campaign continues its mission, the report serves as both a celebration of the progress made and a call to action for the ongoing work required to achieve true equality and justice.

To read the report, visit Close the Gap.

https://t.co/BNODU3DEK2

Key Facts:

Report includes: 9 Case studies & 1 Special Contribution.

The 2025 report provides tangible solutions to Close the Gap, offering a roadmap for implementing and supporting community agency.

It amplifies the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, sharing their expertise and creating change, through innovation, dedication, and the ability to build partnerships.

Read in full our press release

https://t.co/posXSMFEIg

@VACCHO_org @firstpeoplesvic

[Croakey News @CroakeyNews]

@gedkearney @AlboMP @closethegapOZ @LowitjaInstitut Hearing now from Lose Fonua from the newly formed First Nations Eye Health Alliance, advocating for the very first national First Nations Eye Health Strategy #CloseTheGap2025

[Croakey News @CroakeyNews]

@gedkearney @AlboMP @closethegapOZ @LowitjaInstitut "There is a 'gap within a gap' for Stolen Generations survivors," says The Healing Foundation's Steph Harvey, tracing a direct line from the harms of being forcibly removed from family, culture, Country to ongoing health inequity. #CloseTheGap2025

[Croakey News @CroakeyNews]

@gedkearney @AlboMP @closethegapOZ @LowitjaInstitut Steph Harvey puts a powerful challenge to governments, services, agencies and others with the power to act to support Stolen Generations survivors and descendants: "Are you waiting for us to die".

[Croakey News @CroakeyNews]

@gedkearney @AlboMP @closethegapOZ @LowitjaInstitut Hearing now from Steph Harvey, proud board member of The Healing Foundation, seeking to amplify the stories, lives and urgent of the Stolen Generations, including in the #CloseTheGap20025 report.

[Croakey News @CroakeyNews]

@gedkearney @AlboMP @closethegapOZ @LowitjaInstitut The case studies highlighted in the #CloseTheGap2025 report are proud, resilient, self-governed and innovative, says @LowitjaInstitut CEO Paul Stewart. They're unlikely to make the 6pm news, so it's the role of @closethegapOZ members to amplify these stories.

[ClosetheGap 🖤 💛 ❤️ Campaign 💙 💚 @closethegapOZ]

#closethegap2025

[ClosetheGap 🖤 💛 ❤️ Campaign 💙 💚 @closethegapOZ]

#closethegap2025

[ClosetheGap 🖤 💛 ❤️ Campaign 💙 💚 @closethegapOZ]

#closethegap2025

[ClosetheGap 🖤 💛 ❤️ Campaign 💙 💚 @closethegapOZ]

Wominjeka: Wurundjeri Elder Uncle Tony Garvey welcomes today’s #CTG2025 launch to Country, talks about his pride in standing up for his people, in the footsteps of his Elders and ancestors, who have nurtured this land over 60,000 years.