The BLM movement may no longer be top of mind, but there is still an eight-year gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
Much of this gap is due to social determinants such as education, housing, employment, and access to health services. The figures are startling:
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65.9% of Indigenous Australians aged 20-34 have completed Year 12 or equivalent or obtained a Certificate level III or above qualification in 2018/19,
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compared to 90.4% of non-Indigenous Australians in the same age group.
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Indigenous Australians who complete Year 12 or higher qualifications are substantially more likely to be employed.
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In 2018/19, the Indigenous employment rate was around 49% compared to around 75% for non-Indigenous Australians.
With insufficient work experience and lacking necessary skills or education being common difficulties faced by unemployed people trying to find work, Bridging the Gap Foundation has decided to create a Christmas gift that keeps on giving with the launch of its attractive reusable Christmas E-card to share with friends and colleagues.
This sustainable card makes an ideal meaningful and sustainable corporate or personal gift and comes in two downloadable versions, standard or personalisable.
Donations of $20 or more will receive a digital design for donors to share with their contacts. All donations will go towards the creation of new Indigenous traineeships and scholarships to add to the nine traineeships and scholarships that the foundation launched in 2021.
The card is designed by Kiewa Austin-Rioli, daughter of Bridging the Gap Foundation Deputy Chairman and former AFL star Dean Rioli. Kiewa is a proud 20-year old Gunditjmara and Tiwi islander who became an artistic entrepreneur during the pandemic using her passion for drawing to emulate other small business leaders in her community.
Visit www.btgfoundation.com.
