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All Australian governments signed the National Indigenous Reform Agreement in 2009. This Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreement sets six outcome-based reform targets to address Indigenous disadvantage and close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Governments recommitted to the agreement in 2011, and reviewed and agreed a more streamlined structure. National and State and Territory results against the indicators and targets in the agreement are assessed and reported publicly. Progress over time is assessed, trends identified and evaluations made as to whether governments are on track to close the gap. This year, the assessment looks back over five years to evaluate what progress governments have made. The report is structured using the six closing the gap targets: (1) closing the life expectancy gap within the generation (by 2031); (2) halving the gap in mortality rates for Indigenous children under five within a decade (by 2018); (3) ensuring all Indigenous four-year-olds in remote communities have access to early childhood education within five years (by 2013); (4) halving the gap for Indigenous students in reading, writing and numeracy within a decade (by 2018); (5) halving the gap for Indigenous people aged 20-24 years in Year 12 or equivalent attainment rates (by 2020); and (6) halving the gap in employment outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians within a decade (by 2018).

The report shows that while some key areas have improved, more focused effort is needed to achieve the goals agreed by COAG. In terms of Indigenous employment rates, the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous outcomes widened between 2008 and 2012-13. A slump in school attendance rates in all jurisdictions in the later years of compulsory schooling is also concerning given the importance of attendance and completion for prospects of longer term economic participation. The report notes some positive steps in reducing the gap between the proportion of Indigenous and non-Indigenous students who meet the national minimum standard in reading and numeracy, and that the gap in Year 12 attainment has also narrowed by a significant margin. This shows the potential for continued positive improvement in schooling, which is critical to post-school outcomes.

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The Apology to Australia's Indigenous Peoples, and in particular the Stolen Generations, in February 2008 created the opportunity for a shared future and a fresh beginning for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. In November 2008, for the first time in Australian history, Australian Governments took a new approach. They agreed to work towards six clear and specific targets to significantly reduce the gap in life expectancy and opportunities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. These targets are: Close the gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians within a generation; Halve the gap in mortality rates for Indigenous children under five by 2018; Ensure access to early childhood education for all Indigenous four year olds in remote communities by 2013; Halve the gap in reading, writing and numeracy achievement for Indigenous children by 2018; Halve the gap for Indigenous students in Year 12 or equivalent attainment rates by 2020; and Halve the gap in employment outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians by 2018. This document reports on the progress made on these targets in 2010. Findings in relation to education and employment indicate that although the attainment gap is large, there are some signs of improvement nationally; and while the Indigenous employment challenge is greatest in regional and remote areas, employment rates in major cities are also significantly below the non-Indigenous average.

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Closing the Gap aims to improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians by ensuring we work in partnership with First Nations Australians to deliver change. The National Agreement on Closing the Gap [available in VOCEDplus at TD/TNC 141.244], signed by the Hon. Annastacia Palaszczuk MP, Premier and Minister for Trade, was launched on 30 July 2020 by the Prime Minister, Minister Ken Wyatt and Ms Pat Turner, lead convener of the Coalition of Peaks. This is the first time a National Agreement has been developed and negotiated in genuine partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The Agreement recognises that a shift in how we develop and implement government policies and programs is required for significant improvements in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' life outcomes to be achieved.

Queensland is home to the nation's second-largest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population. The Queensland Government is working in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through their representatives, at the national, state and local level, to ensure a focus on achieving long-term social and economic outcomes for Queensland's First Nations peoples. Underpinned by the Path to Treaty and Local Thriving Communities reforms, the Queensland Government is committed to reframing the relationship with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders, working to address historical and ongoing economic and social injustices, and recognising First Nations peoples' sovereignty and right to self-determination.

Queensland's 2021 Closing the Gap Implementation Plan and Attachment documents how the Queensland Government is working to address the Priority Reforms and socio-economic Targets in the National Agreement, and how our progress will be evaluated. The Implementation Plan reflects the Queensland context, and what we have heard from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples about their ambitions for their lives and communities. The Plan documents the ongoing significant structural reforms the government is implementing to change how we share decision-making with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The socio-economic targets include: Outcome 5: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students achieve their full learning potential; Outcome 6: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students reach their full potential through further education pathways; and Outcome 7: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth are engaged in employment or education.

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This Plan sets out the UK Government's vision for the future of the UK labour market and how the government will implement the recommendations arising from the Taylor Review of Modern Working Practices [available in VOCEDplus at TD/TNC 129.269].

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This three-year youth action plan for South Australia was developed in consultation and engagement with young South Australians. It outlines four priority areas for investment and identifies issues faced by young people, existing initiatives that address these issues and the 'Strong futures projects' that will be implemented to deliver to meet the plan's vision of a South Australia that is safe, inclusive and sustainable for all young people, now and into the future. The four priority areas are: (1) Earn and Learn - young South Australians are ready for work and life; (2) Fair and inclusive - young South Australians are included and reach their potential; (3) Wellbeing and environment - young South Australians are safe, healthy and resilient; (4) Connect and grow - Young South Australians are engaged and have influence. Show less

This plan is aimed at raising Pasifika learners’ participation, engagement and achievement from early learning through to tertiary education. A key goal for the New Zealand government is to create the conditions for strong, vibrant and successful Pasifika communities - communities that can help build a more productive and competitive economy for all New Zealanders. The plan’s vision is to see ‘five out of five Pasifika learners participating, engaging and achieving in education, secure in their identities, languages and cultures and contributing fully to Aotearoa New Zealand’s social, cultural and economic wellbeing’.

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This is the first report from the COAG Reform Council to the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) on outcomes by gender. On 13 February 2011, COAG streamlined its 2008 reform agenda into five overarching themes common to all Australian jurisdictions. This report focuses on outcomes for women and girls across two of those key themes: (1) a long-term strategy for economic and social participation; and (2) better health services and a more sustainable health system for all Australians. The report also draws from the objectives of COAG’s six National Agreements on health, housing, education, skills, disability and Indigenous reform in framing the indicators used in this report.

The report highlights outcomes for women and girls, across the lifespan and across the nation. Where possible, results for jurisdictions are compared. The report specifically examines: education and training outcomes and post-school study and work prospects; participation in the labour force, as well as leadership and pay equality; health outcomes and use of health services; use of homelessness services, and the reasons why women need them; whether women with disability are receiving support for economic and social participation; and the contribution of women as carers, and the impacts on economic participation and wellbeing. Information on the demographic contexts relevant to these comparisons is provided in the report.

This report looks at whether different groups of women and girls are benefiting from COAG’s reform agenda. Where data are available, it examines whether Indigenous women are benefiting from COAG’s reform goals at the same pace as non-Indigenous women. It also compares outcomes for women with disability and women from different socioeconomic backgrounds, and examines how geographic location impacts on some outcomes. Overall, the report shows that girls and young women have achieved equity in education but gaps remain in workforce participation. It finds that Australian women lead healthy and long lives but more needs to be done to address inequalities for disadvantaged Australians.

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The Closing the Gap framework and the six targets set by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) is a national approach initiated in 2008, to close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. The six targets relate to life expectancy, child mortality, education and employment. The framework involves considerable investment by governments across seven inter-linked areas, known as 'building blocks', which have been underpinned by a series of Indigenous-specific and mainstream National Partnership Agreements between the Australian, state and territory governments. This report documents the progress made towards addressing Indigenous disadvantage in the years since the Closing the Gap framework was agreed to.

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This 2021 Annual Implementation Plan is a requirement under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap [available in VOCEDplus at TD/TNC 141.244]. It outlines New South Wales (NSW) specific actions to achieve the Priority Reforms and socio-economic targets, and to ensure strong accountability for meeting our commitments under the National Agreement. The NSW partnership has agreed to take an iterative approach, with this first 2021 NSW Implementation Plan setting out preliminary actions and work already underway on Priority Reforms, and baselines on the 17 socio-economic targets. Every year, the NSW Government and NSW Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations (NSW CAPO) will, in partnership, renew our plan and develop further forward-looking action plans to achieve the reforms and targets through working groups led in partnership by government and NSW CAPO. The NSW Implementation Plan will be regularly reviewed and updated – it will provide direction on how all government agencies in partnership with NSW CAPO and other partners will, together, work to enhance economic, social and cultural outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, their families and communities. This will benefit the entire NSW community.

This Plan builds on existing work and partnerships between NSW Government and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations. For the first time, the Plan fully integrates these efforts and brings a whole of government, whole of community approach to strengthen them. The focus in this first annual NSW Implementation Plan is on the five Priority Reforms. The Plan also provides an overview of existing actions against the 17 socio-economic targets, including current activity underway to close the gap in health, education, justice, and jobs, among others. The 17 targets include: 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 per cent; 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 per cent; and 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 per cent.

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This Implementation Plan (the Plan) has been developed by the Western Australian (WA) Government in partnership with the Aboriginal Advisory Council of WA and the Aboriginal Health Council of WA. The Plan articulates how the WA Government will meet its obligations under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap (the National Agreement) [available in VOCEDplus at TD/TNC 141.244]. The National Agreement and this Implementation Plan are living documents which will be reviewed and revised over time as progress is made towards Closing the Gap. This initial Plan is the start of a new chapter in Western Australia, which requires both significant systemic reforms and targeted actions to improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The National Agreement establishes 17 socio-economic outcomes and targets. The targets are the key measures of progress towards achieving the outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and include: Outcome 5 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students achieve their full learning potential; Outcome 6 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students reach their full potential through further education pathways; and Outcome 7 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth are engaged in employment and education.

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