The Federal Government has announced it will extend funding to the Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health for another five years in a bid to further close the health gap between the country’s Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations.

Federal Minister for Research, Craig Emerson, and Minister for Indigenous Health, Warren Snowdon, announced that $25 million will be provided to the centre to continue its work for five years from 1 July, 2014.

"For nearly 15 years, the Lowitja Institute has been contributing to better health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people," Dr Emerson said.

"This new investment will ensure that it can continue to support the Government's priority of closing the gap on Indigenous health."

Mr Snowdon said the funding would also help the CRC to maintain a large knowledge base and to strengthen valuable networks between academics, policy-makers and health service providers.

"Our Government is committed to supporting organisations like Lowitja to continue to strive to make our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population live longer, healthier lives," Mr Snowdon said.