Description

The results outlined in this report reiterate that while these targets may be ambitious, striving to meet them is essential in building a robust and healthy Australia. The targets focus on the areas of health, education and employment, which are recognised as the key drivers for success in addressing the significant disparity in the health, wellbeing and prosperity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

There have been some tangible successes and continuing improvement in many of the areas critical to addressing inequality. While long-term improvements are evident, it is important to note that overall progress has been varied and that meeting many of the Closing the Gap targets remains a significant challenge. The target to halve the gap in child mortality by 2018 is on track. Over the longer term, Indigenous child death rates declined by 33 per cent and the gap narrowed (by 34 per cent) between 1998 and 2014. The target to close the gap in life expectancy is not on track, based on data since the 2006 baseline. The latest data shows mixed progress on the target to halve the gap in reading and numeracy for Indigenous students by 2018. An increasing proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people are completing Year 12, up from 45.4 per cent in 2008 to 58.5 per cent in 2012-13. This means the target to halve the gap in Year 12 attainment by 2020 is on track. The target to halve the gap in employment by 2018 is not on track.