The National Agreement on Closing the Gap was introduced to help address the significant disparities that exist between Indigenous Australians and non-Indigenous Australians across various areas such as health, education, and employment. The agreement was initially established in 2008, but it was only recently updated in July 2020.
The National Agreement is a partnership involving all levels of government, Indigenous organisations, and other stakeholders. Its goal is to address the inequities experienced by Indigenous Australians and ensure that they have the same opportunities as other Australians.
The updated agreement sets out the following targets to be achieved by 2031:
1. Close the life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians within a generation (by 2031).
This target aims to address the significant gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. The current gap is around 8.6 years, with Indigenous Australians having a substantially lower life expectancy than non-Indigenous Australians. The target is to close this gap within a generation, which is deemed achievable through coordinated efforts across health care, education, employment, and other areas.
2. Halve the gap in mortality rates for Indigenous children under five within a decade (by 2028).
This target aims to reduce the mortality rate for Indigenous children under five by half within a decade. The current rate is almost double that of non-Indigenous children, with Indigenous children experiencing higher rates of illness and disease. The target is to address these issues through improved access to healthcare, better health education, and other strategies.
3. Increase the proportion of Indigenous Australians aged 25-64 with a tertiary qualification to 70% by 2031.
This target aims to address the significant gap in education levels between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Currently, only around 23% of Indigenous Australians aged 25-64 hold a tertiary qualification, compared to around 42% of non-Indigenous Australians. The target is to increase this proportion to 70% by 2031, which will require significant investment in education and training.
4. Halve the gap in employment rates between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians within a decade (by 2028).
This target aims to address the significant disparity in employment rates between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Currently, Indigenous Australians are around twice as likely to be unemployed as non-Indigenous Australians. The target is to reduce this gap by half within a decade, which will require significant efforts across government and industry.
5. Ensure that 95% of Indigenous four-year-olds are enrolled in early childhood education by 2025.
This target aims to address the significant gap in early childhood education between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Currently, only around 86% of Indigenous four-year-olds are enrolled in early childhood education, compared to around 96% of non-Indigenous Australians. The target is to ensure that 95% of Indigenous four-year-olds are enrolled in early childhood education by 2025, which will require significant investment in education and outreach programs.
In summary, the updated National Agreement on Closing the Gap sets out ambitious targets to address the significant disparities experienced by Indigenous Australians. Achieving these targets will require significant investment and coordinated efforts across government, industry, and the wider community. However, by working together, we can ensure that Indigenous Australians have the same opportunities as other Australians and help to close the gap for good.
