Work still to do on closing the gap

Posted

Nearly 1,000 events were held at schools and offices around Australia this week for the sixth Close the Gap day.

The lobby group Close the Gap says small improvements have been made in recent years in Indigenous health, but there is still a long way to go.

But how far does Australia have to go to provide a level playing field and tackle the problem of Indigenous disadvantage?

In 2008 COAG federal and state governments agreed to:

Close the life expectancy gap within a generation (by 2031)

within a generation (by 2031) Halve the gap in mortality rates for Indigenous children under five by 2018

for Indigenous children under five by 2018 Ensure access to early childhood education for all Indigenous four-year-olds in remote communities by 2013

in remote communities by 2013 Halve the gap in reading, writing and numeracy achievements for children by 2018

achievements for children by 2018 Halve the gap for Indigenous students in Year 12 (or equivalent) attainment rates by 2020

(or equivalent) attainment rates by 2020 Halve the gap in employment outcomes between Indigenous and other Australians by 2018.





The next COAG Reform Council report on progress against the targets will be released later this year. In 2011, the Council issued figures for 2009-10.

This is what they found:

Life expectancy: Can only be measured every five years through Census data. Indigenous mortality rates declined "significantly" between 1991 and 2009, but so did non-Indigenous rates. Between 2007 and 2009 there was "no statistically significant change in Indigenous mortality rates".

Can only be measured every five years through Census data. Indigenous mortality rates declined "significantly" between 1991 and 2009, but so did non-Indigenous rates. Between 2007 and 2009 there was "no statistically significant change in Indigenous mortality rates". Child deaths: On target: There was a significant decrease in the gap between between Indigenous and non-Indigenous child mortality rates, from 132 per 100,000 in 2007 to 115 per 100,000 in 2009. Verdict? "This is consistent with the trajectory for this target."

On target: There was a significant decrease in the gap between between Indigenous and non-Indigenous child mortality rates, from 132 per 100,000 in 2007 to 115 per 100,000 in 2009. Verdict? "This is consistent with the trajectory for this target." Education for four-year-olds: No "nationally comparable" data was available.

No "nationally comparable" data was available. Reading, writing, and numeracy: The gap decreased in: Years 3, 5 and 7 reading and writing; Years 5 and 9 numeracy. The gap increased in: Years 3 and 7 numeracy; Year 9 reading; Year 9 writing.

The gap decreased in: Years 3, 5 and 7 reading and writing; Years 5 and 9 numeracy. The gap increased in: Years 3 and 7 numeracy; Year 9 reading; Year 9 writing. Year 12 attainment: Data won't be available until this year.

Data won't be available until this year. Employment: No data available. Census data expected to be released later this year.

For more information, read the official Closing the Gap 2012 report (below).

Topics: indigenous-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander, community-and-society, government-and-politics, federal-government, states-and-territories, australia, nt, qld