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Closing the gap: Prime Minister’s report 2013

by Department of Families Housing Community Services and Indigenous Affairs

Abstract

This is the fifth annual report outlining progress made towards meeting the targets set for Closing the gap in Indigenous disadvantage in the seven key building blocks:

• early childhood
• schooling
• health
• healthy homes
• safe communities
• economic participation
• governance and leadership.

The report includes new data from the 2011 Census and provides the most comprehensive assessment to date of progress against the targets.

The report highlights 2013 as the year the first target - ensuring all Indigenous four-year olds living in remote communities have access to early childhood education within five years - falls due and claims this target will be met.

The Australian Government's agenda for Closing the gap is driven by the need to:

• overcome decades of under-investment in services and infrastructure
• encourage and support personal responsibility for healthy functional families and communities
• build new understanding and respect between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

The report states that continued and sustained effort is needed to close the gap, but that the expected achievement of the early childhood education target in 2013 will support a commitment to ensuring that benefits flow through to the other Closing the gap targets to further address Indigenous disadvantage.

As with previous reports, it is acknowledged that the approach to Closing the Gap is a partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities, the private sector and non-government organisations.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

Links

• View report: Closing the gap: Prime Minister’s report 2013 (PDF - 15.1 MB)
• View information: Closing the gap: Prime Minister’s report 2013
• View website: Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs