Description

This is the third Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage report, prepared at the request of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG). It provides indicators of Indigenous disadvantage, with a focus on areas where governments can make a difference, including information on the current level of disadvantage, and where possible, how that disadvantage has changed over time. It is designed to act as a driver for positive change by identifying key areas for action. Across virtually all the indicators in this report, wide gaps remain in outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. For example, despite Australia’s world class health system, the life expectancy of Indigenous people is estimated to be around 17 years lower than that for the total Australian population. Despite compulsory education, Indigenous students at all levels experience much worse outcomes than non-Indigenous students. In addition, Indigenous people are significantly over-represented in the criminal justice system, as both victims and offenders. The report is part of a commitment by all governments in Australia to tackle the problems that lead to Indigenous disadvantage. The report has three parts: an overview, which summarises the report’s key messages; this main report, which provides more detailed information and the evidence base supporting the report’s framework and choice of indicators; and the attachment tables (published on the Review website), which include all the data used in the report.

Related Items

See other periodic OID Reports