Barwon Division of General Practice, Hunter New England Area Health and Pius X Aboriginal Corporation are hosting a National Close the Gap Day at the Moree hospital grounds from 10am until 2pm.

Program officer for Pius, Ray Dennison hopes for a successful day.

“We are setting up a friendly environment and hoping that the community come along to learn about services available for them,” he said.

There will be doctors, dentists, optometrists and pharmacists presenting information and talking about the benefits of check-ups and early preventions, as well as them doing health checks and referrals.

“We’re providing information in a small way, taking small steps which will hopefully turn into closing the gap,” Mr Dennison said.

A barbecue will be provided with gluten free kebabs and fresh fruit.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a 10-17 year lesser life expectancy than other Australians, one reason being that Aboriginal people were once scared of hospitals.

“There was a myth once spread in the Aboriginal community that if you went to the hospital you would die but that isn’t true,” Mr Dennison said.

“We (Aboriginals) should all be able to grow into elders and get to see our grandkids grow up,” he said.

Mr Dennison and the organisations behind this day are hoping for large community support.

“The day will be very eventful and service providers will hopefully sign something on the day to say that they will all work as one to help close the gap,” he said.