AT 35 years of age, Dale Wright of the Illawarra Aboriginal Medical Service doesn't expect the life expectancy gap between indigenous and other Australians to be closed within his lifetime.
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However, the Aboriginal health worker and elders such as Uncle Gerald Brown recognise the importance doing all they can to help indigenous Australians live longer.
"We are Aboriginal men first," Barrack Heights resident Uncle Gerald said. "We need to try and keep our people alive a lot longer."
Australia is on track to halve the gap in child death rates between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians, but a much greater effort is needed to achieve equality in life expectancy by 2030, an independent report found recently.
The findings are part of a report prepared for the Council of Australian Governments.
Close the Gap campaign co-chairman Mick Gooda said addressing child mortality is critical in efforts to drive improvements in life expectancy.
However, Mr Gooda said more needed to be done because indigenous people are still dying at nearly twice the rate of other Australians.
They also experience higher rates of preventable illnesses such as heart disease, kidney disease and diabetes.
Mr Wright it could be difficult, particularly for older indigenous males, to seek medical help.
"The 'not going to happen to me' attitude also comes into play," he said.
Uncle Gerald, 66, is president of the Albion Park Rail-based, Illawarra Koori Men's Support Group.
He agreed that many males wouldn't seek medical treatment unless there was a serious issue, but said a lack of knowledge regarding topics like diet and diabetes was significant.
"We try to convince guys to come to our programs, [but] we can only access families that want to be accessed."
Uncle Gerald said the group's work with pre-high school children was also vital, teaching them hygiene, manners and basic etiquette.
Mr Wright said while finances was an issue, extending lifespans was rooted in education of all age groups.
"I won't see the gap closed completely in my lifetime, but we're doing our best," he said. "That's sad, because there is a future before me, the younger generation coming through. Hopefully we can educate them in looking after themselves."
For details on the Men's Support Group, phone 4256 9385.
