Closing the Gap 2015 Report (1)

7/25/2019 Closing the Gap 2015 Report (1)

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Closing the Gap

Prime Ministers Report 2015

Introduction....................................................................................................................................... 2Overview of the Governments priorities for Indigenous Affairs.........................................................3Closing the Gap targets....................................................................................................................4Focus on priorities...........................................................................................................................4!chooling " Getting the most out of education.................................................................................4Focus on #o$s " Adults into wor%..................................................................................................... &!trengthening $usiness opportunities and communities.................................................................'

!afe communities........................................................................................................................... 'Importance of health and well$eing.................................................................................................(Constitutional recognition................................................................................................................()eferences..................................................................................................................................... *A$out the artwor%............................................................................................................................2+


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Introduction

Its hard to be literate and numerate without attending school; its hard to find workwithout a basic education; and its hard to live well without a job.

I made this comment in the Australian ,arliament one -ear ago. It goes a long wa- to eplaining wh- theGovernment has spent the past 2 months focusing our efforts in Indigenous Affairs on getting children toschool/ adults into #o$s and ma%ing communities safer.

0his is the seventh Closing the Gap )eport produced since targets were set $- the Council of AustralianGovernments 1COAG in 2++(. espite good intention and considera$le investment $- successivegovernments/ the disparit- in outcomes remains. Although there has $een some improvement in education andhealth outcomes for Indigenous Australians/ in man- areas progress has $een far too slow. It is profoundl-disappointing that most Closing the Gap targets are not on trac% to $e met.

0he Government is now one -ear into its plan to address what have $een intracta$le issues around Indigenousdisadvantage and fundamentall- change the wa- Indigenous policies and programmes are delivered. )educing

the levels of red tape and administration is important/ $ut our main focus is on achieving results.

Achieving results reuires more than #ust government effort. I ac%nowledge and than% the communities/ privatesector and non"government sector for their wor% in helping A$original and 0orres !trait Islander peoples achievetheir full potential to live a good life. Andrew Forrest was as%ed for his advice and has highlighted a $road rangeof issues in his independent review of emplo-ment and training.

0he Government has received practical advice from the Indigenous Advisor- Council/ chaired $- 5arren6undine/ on the three priorit- areas of getting children to school/ adults into #o$s and ma%ing communities saferwhich are fundamental to improving the lives of A$original and 0orres !trait Islander individuals/ families andcommunities. Focusing on these priorities will produce real progress against the Closing the Gap targets andhelp to address the most intracta$le difficulties in eliminating Indigenous disadvantage.

0he other %e- priorit- for the Government is to recognise Indigenous Australians in the Constitution. Areferendum should $e held as soon as possi$le once we are comforta$le that we have a proposal with the $estchance of success. I hope that it might happen on the 7+th anniversar- of the *&' referendum/ on 2' 6a-2+'. 0hat would $e a richl- s-m$olic time to complete our Constitution.

0he 8on 0on- A$$ott 6,,rime 6inister of Australia

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Overview o the Governments priorities or

Indigenous !airs

0his Government wants to wor% with Indigenous Australians and communities to ma%e real improvements intheir lives. 5e will do this while recognising the special place of A$original and 0orres !trait Islander peoples inour national stor-.

0he Commonwealths Indigenous Affairs agenda is aimed at $uilding on previous wor% 9 $ut with a greaterfocus on areas that have $een shown to improve outcomes for A$original and 0orres !trait Islander peoples.

0here are three priorit- areas that have $een proven to have a positive effect on the lives of A$original and0orres !trait Islander peoples:

getting children to school to provide the $est chance of en#o-ing success in school and later in life

getting adults into wor% to ensure Indigenous Australians participate in the modern econom-

ma%ing Indigenous communities safer for people to live/ wor% and raise their families.

An- wor% in these priorit- areas must $e underpinned $- improving the health and well$eing of individuals/families and communities. 0hat is wh- the Government is developing an Implementation ,lan for the ;ationalA$original and 0orres !trait Islander 8ealth ,lan 2+3"23.

0he past -ear was one of developing practical reforms so we have a solid platform from which to deliverimprovements. 0o this end/ the Government has received advice from the ,rime 6inisters Indigenous Advisor-Council/ chaired $- 6r 5arren 6undine/ on practical wa-s to improve educational outcomes and schoolattendance/ emplo-ment and economic development/ and communit- safet-.

0he ,rime 6inister/ along with senior ministers and government officials/ spent almost a wee% in !eptem$er2+4 running the Government from ;orth unupingu A6. 0he visit provided

a valua$le opportunit- for the Government to eperience first"hand the challenges facing A$original and 0orres!trait Islander peoples living in remote communities while focusing the nations attention on important issuesaffecting Indigenous Australians.

0his wor% has provided the foundation for the -ear ahead. 0his -ear will $e one focused on action that will overtime accelerate progress against the Closing the Gap targets/ including the new target of closing the schoolattendance gap within five -ears.

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Closing the Gap targets

Progress against the targets

?e- findings:

0arget 0arget -ear ,rogress )esults

Close the gap in life epectanc- withina generation

2+3 ;ot on trac% =imited progress.

8alve the gap in mortalit- rates forIndigenous children under five withina decade

2+( On trac% =ong term progress.

ear 2attainment or euivalent attainmentrates

2+2+ On trac% 0he gap is narrowing in >ear 2 oreuivalent attainment.

8alve the gap in emplo-mentoutcomes $etween Indigenous andnon"Indigenous Australians

2+( ;ot on trac% 0here was a decline inemplo-ment outcomes since the2++( $aseline.

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Target

Close the life e!ectanc" ga! within a generation #b" $%&'( -)imited !rogress

From **( to 2+3/ overall Indigenous death rates have declined significantl- 1$- & per cent and there has$een a significant decline in the gap 1$- 7 per cent. 8owever/ no significant change was detected $etween the2++& $aseline and 2+3/ and rates are not on trac% to meet the target.

Figure shows that the current rate of progress will have to gather considera$le pace if the target is to $e met$- 2+3.

0he most recent life epectanc- figures were pu$lished in late 2+3 and featured in last -ears report. In 2++92/ Indigenous life epectanc- was estimated to $e &*. -ears for males and '3.' -ears for females. 0he gap inlife epectanc- $etween Indigenous and non"Indigenous Australians was +.& -ears for males and *.7 -ears forfemales. @etween 2++79+' and 2++92/ there has $een a small reduction in the gap of +.( -ears for malesand +. -ears for females.

=ife epectanc- estimates for A$original and 0orres !trait Islander peoples are onl- pu$lished ever- five -ears.pdated estimates are epected to $e pu$lished $- the Australian @ureau of !tatistics in 2+(. In the interim/overall death rates are used to assess progress in closing the gap.

@etween 2++( and 2+2/ chronic disease 1including circulator- disease/ cancer/ dia$etes/ %idne- andrespirator- diseases accounted for '+ per cent of Indigenous deaths. Chronic disease also accounted for (per cent of the gap in death rates $etween Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

From **( to 2+2/ Indigenous death rates from chronic disease have declined significantl- 1$- * per centand there has $een a significant decline in the gap 1$- 4 per cent. 8owever/ since 2++& the gap widened forcancer mortalit- and there has $een no improvement for dia$etes or eternal causes of death such as suicideand transport accidents.

Improvements in life epectanc- will $e supported $- real progress in education/ emplo-ment/ housing/ income/safet- and preventing health ris% $ehaviours.

*igure '+ ,verall mortalit" rates b" Indigenous status+ -/0 1)20 /30 3 and the -T combined '4456$%&'.

+

2++

4++

&++

(++

/+++

/2++

/4++

Indigenous rate ;on"Indigenous rate

0arget Indigenous rate ,ro#ected non"Indigenous rate

Indigenous v aria$ilit- $ands =C= *("+(

C=+("( =C= +("(

0arget Indigenous data points

7ear

2eaths !er '%%0%%%

!ource: A@! and AI85 anal-sis of ;ational 6ortalit- ata$ase

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Target

8alving the ga! in mortalit" rates for Indigenous children under five within a decade#b" $%'5( 6 )ong term !rogress

0he Indigenous child death rate declined $- 3 per cent/ outpacing the decline in non"Indigenous child deaths$etween **( and 2+3. 0his has led to a significant 137 per cent narrowing of the gap in child death rates$etween Indigenous and non"Indigenous children over this period.

0he latest Indigenous child mortalit- rate for 2+3 is a$ove the tra#ector- point for the target 1see Figure 2. Anunusuall- large num$er of Indigenous -oung infant deaths that occurred in 2+2 were registered in 2+3. 0hismeans that Indigenous mortalit- rates $ased on registered deaths are li%el- to $e understated in 2+2 andoverstated in 2+3. 5hen -ou average the rates for 2+2 and 2+3 the resulting num$er is within the reuiredtra#ector-. 0he sharp increase in 2+3 is also affected $- the volatilit- in small num$ers. 0he previous trendsshow large variation -ear to -ear. 5e should not read too much into a result for one -ear and it is worth notingthat the target has $een on trac% ever- -ear ecept 2+3.

5hile the decline in Indigenous child deaths has slowed in 2+3/ the target remains achieva$le $- 2+(.

6aintaining a positive trend towards lower child mortalit- reuires a continued focus on preventative care andchild and maternal health services. It also means addressing $roader factors such as socio"economic status/education/ smo%ing during pregnanc-/ infant $reastfeeding/ adeuate diet and eercise.

*igure $+ Child mortalit" rates b" Indigenous status+ -/0 1)20 /30 3 and the -T combined0 '4456$%'5

+

7+

++

7+

2++

27+

3++

37+

4++

47+

7++

Indigenous rate ;on"Indigenous rate 0arget Indigenous rate

,ro#ected non"Indigenous rate Indigenous v aria$ilit- $ands =C= *("+(

C=+("( =C= +("( 0arget

Indigenous data points

7ear

2eaths !er '%%0%%%

!ource: A@! and AI85 anal-sis of ;ational 6ortalit- ata$ase

10o allow for timel- reporting/ this target is monitored using the -ear a death is registered rather than the -ear it occurred 1as it ta%es a few -ears for all deaths to $eregistered. Counting deaths registered each -ear is a reasona$le pro- for monitoring annual death rates as the proportion of deaths that occurred in the current -ear andwere registered in the current -ear vs the net -ear are usuall- fairl- sta$le.

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Target

9nsuring all Indigenous four6"ear6olds in remote communities have access to earl" childhood educationwithin five "ears #b" $%'&( 6 -ot met

0he target was not met. 0o reach this target/ a *7 per cent enrolment for Indigenous four"-ear"old children inremote communities $- 2+3 had to $e achieved. 0he target was *7 per cent/ rather than ++ per centenrolment/ as earl- childhood education is not compulsor-.

In 2+3/ (7 per cent of Indigenous four"-ear"olds in remote communities were enrolled compared to thereuired $enchmar% of *7 per cent.2

Bualit- earl- childhood education is critical to ensure -oung children have opportunities for earl- childhooddevelopment and preparation for their later schooling.


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Target

Close the ga! between Indigenous and non6Indigenous school attendance within five "ears #b" $%'5( 6-ew target

In 6a- 2+4/ COAG agreed to a new target to close the gap $etween Indigenous and non"Indigenous schoolattendance within five -ears 1$- 2+(.

0here is a strong lin% $etween school attendance and student performance. 0he report Student Attendance andEducational Outcomes: Every Day Countsfound that in all anal-ses average academic achievement on the;ational Assessment ,rogram 9 =iterac- and ;umerac- 1;A,=A; tests declined with an- a$sence fromschool/ and continued to decline as a$sence rates increased. 0he report also showed that for moredisadvantaged students/ achievement declines rapidl- with increasing levels of a$sence 18ancoc% et al. 2+3.

r ;icholas @iddle/ Fellow at the Centre for A$original ear to

>ear +.4

0he ;orthern 0erritor- had the largest attendance gaps/ ranging from 2"22 percentage points in the primar-school -ears 1>ears "&/ to 3 percentage points in >ear +.

=ittle progress has $een made in recent -ears. 0he Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage Reportfor 2+4shows sta$le >ear 7 attendance rates for Indigenous students and declines in >ear + attendance rates from2++' to 2+3 for government schools 1!C)G!, 2+4. ;o clear trend was evident for Independent or Catholicschools. 0he COAG )eform Council also concluded that there had $een no overall improvement in A$originaland 0orres !trait Islander students school attendance rates from 2++( to 2+2 1C)C 2+3.

3ata for !emester was released in ecem$er 2+4 and from 2+7 data will $e pu$lished twice -earl- for !emester and 0erm 3.

4In 2+3 different definitions and methodologies were used $- #urisdictions to collect attendance data. From the 2+4 school -ear onwards/ nationall- compara$le studentattendance data will $e collected/ as set out in the ;ational !tandards for !tudent Attendance ata )eporting 1including ;!5 government schools from 2+7 1from

Australian Curriculum Assessment and )eporting Authorit-/ http:www.acara.edu.aureportingreporting.html.

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*igure &+ 7ear and '% government school attendance0 states and territories0 $%'&

20

40 60

80

100

Year 5 Attendance

Indigenous NonIndigenous

Per cent

20

40 60

80

100

Year 10 Attendance

Indigenous NonIndigenous

Per cent

!ource: Australian Curriculum/ Assessment and )eporting Authorit- as reported $- !C)G!, 12+4

;ew data released in ecem$er 2+4 show that the Indigenous attendance rate was alread- *+ per cent or

a$ove in 2/+4& 144 per cent of the 4/&+7 schools for which an Indigenous attendance rate was pu$lished.

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0heproportion of schools achieving the *+ per cent $enchmar% for Indigenous attendance in 2+4 varies sharpl- $-remoteness: 4( per cent of schools in metropolitan areas/ 44 per cent in provincialD 2 per cent in remote andonl- 4 per cent in ver- remote areas.&0here is also variation $etween states and territoriesD ranging from0asmania where &2 per cent of schools have at least *+ per cent Indigenous attendance/ to the ;orthern0erritor- where onl- + per cent of schools met the $enchmar%.

Future Closing the Gap reports will assess progress against the target to close the school attendance gap 12+4is the $aseline -ear for the new target.

*igure


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Target

8alve the ga! for Indigenous children in reading0 writing and numerac" within a decade #b" $%'5( 6 -ooverall !rogress

0here has $een no improvement in this target using the outcomes of the annual ;A,=A; tests.

@etween 2++( and 2+4/ the proportion of A$original and 0orres !trait Islander students at or a$ove the;ational 6inimum !tandards in reading and numerac- has shown no statisticall- significant improvementnationall- in an- of the eight measures 1>ears 3/ 7/ ' and * in reading and numerac-. In >ear 7 reading a largeapparent rise occurred in the proportion of Indigenous students meeting national minimum standards from 2+2to 2+3 1from &4.' to (3.3 per cent. 8owever this proportion fell $ac% to '+.3 per cent in 2+4.

0he gap for this target is measured as the difference $etween the proportion of Indigenous and non"Indigenousstudents at or a$ove the ;ational 6inimum !tandards in reading and numerac- at >ears 3/ 7/ ' and *. 5ritingresults from 2+ onwards cannot $e directl- compared to the writing results from previous -ears/ and so have$een ecluded.'

In 2+4/ results in two of the eight areas 1>ear ' reading and >ear * numerac- were consistent with thereuired tra#ector- points at the national level. In the other si areas/ 2+4 results were $elow the reuiredtra#ector- points/ which means that progress will need to accelerate for this target to $e met.

;A,=A; results for Indigenous students var- sharpl- $- remoteness area. For eample/ in 2+4/ (7.' per centof all Indigenous students in metropolitan areas met or eceeded the ;ational 6inimum !tandards for >ear 'reading compared to onl- 34.* per cent of Indigenous students in ver- remote areas. As results for non"Indigenous students show less variation $- remoteness area/ the gap is much wider in ver- remote areas than itis in metropolitan areas.

*igure + Indigenous students reaching -ational =inimum tandards #-=( for 7ear > reading b"remoteness $%%5 to $%'ear level 1for reading and numerac-. Figure & illustratesthis using >ear ' reading results.


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*igure ?+ Indigenous students reaching -ational =inimum tandards #-=( for 7ear > reading b" stateand territor"0 $%%5 to $%'

Closing the Gap 2015 Report (1)

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