Bridging the Gap has launched a new range of attractive and reusable Christmas E-cards with funds raised going towards new Indigenous traineeships and scholarships.
The cards come in two downloadable versions, and were created by 20-year old Gunditjmara and Tiwi islander artist, Kiewa Austin-Rioli, daughter of Bridging the Gap’s deputy chairman and former AFL star, Dean Rioli.
The campaign aims to build on the nine traineeships and sponsorships launched by the foundation this year, of which Melbourne’s Jaykob Taylor from and Adelaide’s T-Keyah Hands (main photo) were recipients.
However, employment and education levels between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians are still far apart.
According to the 2020 Closing The Gap Report, 65.9 per cent of Indigenous Australians aged 20-34 have completed Year 12 or equivalent or obtained a Certificate level III or above qualification in 2018/19, compared to 90.4 per cent of non-Indigenous Australians in the same age group.
The report also found Indigenous Australians who completed VCE or a higher qualification were far more likely to be employed.
However, in 2018/19, the Indigenous employment rate remained around 49 per cent compared to 75 per cent for non-Indigenous people.
And while the BLM movement may no longer be top of mind, there is still an eight-year gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
Therefore, it’s more important than ever to get involved and be charitable this holiday season.
Donations of $20 or more will receive one of Austin-Rioli’s sustainable e-cards for donors to share with their contacts and loved ones.
The cards are currently available on the official Bridging the Gap website.
