This is the 10th 'Closing the Gap' report. The Closing the Gap framework was established in 2008 to address Indigenous disadvantage. Ten years on, the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have improved but more gains need to be made. It is clear that continued effort and action is required. The Closing the Gap framework provides an annual national snapshot of progress made against the targets - and helps maintain our collective focus. While acknowledging this, it is important to recognise the success and achievements of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, demons
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This is the 10th 'Closing the Gap' report. The Closing the Gap framework was established in 2008 to address Indigenous disadvantage. Ten years on, the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have improved but more gains need to be made. It is clear that continued effort and action is required. The Closing the Gap framework provides an annual national snapshot of progress made against the targets - and helps maintain our collective focus. While acknowledging this, it is important to recognise the success and achievements of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, demonstrating that when equal opportunities are provided, disadvantage can be overcome. The chapters in this report detail the progress made against the seven Closing the Gap targets - and focus on health, education, employment and community safety. They also showcase a range of Indigenous success stories - from inspiring individuals, to growing businesses and organisations making a positive difference to their communities. All of the Closing the Gap targets are interconnected. Progress in one area helps progress to be made in others. For instance, improving education standards helps to increase employment rates and levels of health. And community safety is fundamental to ensuring children attend school and adults maintain employment.
The latest data indicate that three of the seven Closing the Gap targets are on track to be met. The last year in which at least three targets were on track was in 2011. The three targets on track are: to halve the gap in child mortality by 2018; to have 95 per cent of all Indigenous four-year-olds enrolled in early childhood education by 2025; and to to halve the gap in Year 12 attainment by 2020. The four targets not on track are: to close the gap in school attendance by 2018; to halve the gap in reading and numeracy by 2018; to halve the gap in employment by 2018; and to close the gap in life expectancy by 2031.
Edited excerpts from publication.
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