The 2026 National Indigenous Closing the Gap Health Conference is scheduled on December 8-10, 2026 at the Hilton Hotel on the Gold Coast. The conference is based on the belief that prevention is better than cure which is grounded in culture, leadership, and holistic wellbeing. It brings together Elders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers, community leaders, researchers, AMS staff, PHN program officers, and policymakers to create a space where the body is nurtured through health innovation, the mind through knowledge sharing, and the spirit through culture, connection to Country, and community wisdom. The conference celebrates Indigenous leadership, truth-telling, and lived experience, while addressing ongoing disparities in life expectancy, chronic disease, mental health, and access to quality care.
Through collaboration, storytelling, and evidence-based approaches, participants will share knowledge, strengthen partnerships, and co-design culturally safe, sustainable solutions that empower communities, foster resilience, and advance health equity. It highlights the importance of self-determination, culture, and community-led initiatives in achieving lasting health improvements. More than a conference, this is a movement for action, healing, and transformative change, shaping a future where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples thrive in mind, body, and spirit.
THE CONFERENCE THEME The 2026 National Indigenous Closing the Gap Health Conference will focus on three interconnected themes:
Our Leadership, Our Health - Celebrating self-determination, collective leadership, and community-driven solutions to close the health gap.
Truth, Culture, Healing - Acknowledging the past, embracing cultural integrity, and fostering holistic wellbeing through identity, Country, and connection.
Innovate Together, Transform Generations - Uniting knowledge, partnerships, and innovation to create sustainable, culturally safe, and equitable health outcomes for current and future generations.