Honouring Culture, Closing Gaps

March 16, 2026

Harmony Week and Close the Gap Day came together recently, bringing into focus two significant moments in Australia. While they reflect different parts of our national story, they share a powerful message about the kind of communities we aspire to create. 

Close the Gap Day asks us to recognise the health inequalities still experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Many national targets aimed at improving health and wellbeing remain off track, and the reality behind those statistics is that many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people never reach the stage of life where aged care services are needed. 

Harmony Week, celebrated at the same time, reminds us that Australia is shaped by people from many cultures and backgrounds. It celebrates the idea that everyone belongs and that communities are strongest when diversity is recognised and respected. 

Together, these moments remind us that healthy communities are built through inclusion, understanding and respect. 

For organisations like Southern Cross Care (NSW & ACT), this message is particularly meaningful. Our purpose is to enable older people to live life to the full. Closing the Gap Day is about ensuring more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have the opportunity to live long lives connected to family, culture and community. Harmony Week reminds us that the care we provide every day is strengthened by the diverse people who make up our workforce. 

Our staff come from many countries and cultures. Nurses, carers and support teams bring traditions, experiences and perspectives from around the world. We are incredibly fortunate to work alongside such a diverse mix of people who bring so much to our organisation each day.  

When we talk about Closing the Gap, we talk about listening to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices and recognising the strength of the oldest living cultures on earth. When we celebrate Harmony Week, we recognise the many cultures that continue to shape Australia today. Both remind us that when people are seen, heard and respected, communities grow stronger. 

Our HEART values of Honesty, Empathy, Acceptance, Respect and Teamwork remind us that strong communities are built when people walk alongside one another with respect. 

When we take the time to listen across cultures, across histories and across experiences, we begin to see something powerful: that the things that connect us are far greater than the things that divide us. 

And it is in those moments when people listen, learn and stand alongside one another that stronger communities are built. 

Together.