M1 - Learner Manual

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Professor Tom Calma AO, in his Social Justice Report 2005, urged Australian governments to commit to achieving equality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in health and life expectancy, within 25 years.

Since then, the Commonwealth Government tends to take the leading role in the provision of goods and services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people according to its policies and programs. Annually, reports on Closing the Gap are tabled in the Australian Parliament. Since the implementation of the initiative, annual reports indicate that the gaps in areas of concern are not closing as quickly as expected.

On 13 February 2024 Prime Minister Albanese delivered the Commonwealth’s 2023 Annual Report together with the 2024 Implementation Plan. He reported that eleven of the nineteen socio-economic outcomes are improving, but only four are on track. He added that outcomes worsened for children’s early development, rates of children in out-of-home care, rates of adult imprisonment and suicide.

 

Closing the Gap Targets

Target 1: Close the Gap in life expectancy within a generation, by 2031.

Target 2: By 2031, increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander babies with a healthy birthweight to 91%.

Target 3: By 2025, increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children enrolled in early childhood education to 95%. Known as ‘Year Before Fulltime Schooling’ (YBFS).

Target 4: By 2031, increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children assessed as developmentally on track in all five domains of the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) to 55%.

Target 5: By 2031, increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (age 20-24) attaining year 12 or equivalent qualification to 96%.

Target 6: By 2031, increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 25-34 years who have completed a tertiary qualification (Certificate III and above) to 70%.

Target 7: By 2031, increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth (15-24 years) who are in employment, education or training to 67%.

Target 8: By 2031, increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 25-64 who are employed to 62%.

Target 9a: By 2031, increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in appropriately sized (not overcrowded) housing to 88%.

Target 9b: By 2031, all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households:

1. within discrete Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander communities² receive essential services³ that meet or exceed the relevant jurisdictional standard⁴;
2. in or near to a town receive essential services that meet or exceed the same standard as applies generally within the town (including if the household might be classified for other purposes as a part of a discrete settlement such as a “town camp” or “town-based reserve”).

Target 10: By 2031, reduce the rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults held in incarceration by at least 15%.

Target 11: By 2031, reduce the rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people (10-17 years) in detention by at least 30%.

Target 12: By 2031, reduce the rate of over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care by 45%.

Target 13: By 2031, the rate of all forms of family violence and abuse against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children is reduced at least by 50%, as progress towards zero.

Target 14: Significant and sustained reduction in suicide of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people towards zero.

Target 15a: By 2030, a 15% increase in Australia’s landmass subject to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s legal rights or interests.

Target 15b: By 2030, a 15% increase in areas covered by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s legal rights or interests in the sea.

Target 16: By 2031, there is a sustained increase in number and strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages being spoken.

Target 17: By 2026, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have equal levels of digital inclusion.

https://www.closingthegap.gov.au/national-agreement/national-agreement-closing-the-gap