What are the targets?

The COAG targets, developed by experts in the various areas covered by the CTG strategy, in the National Indigenous reform agreement [1] are :

• To close the life expectancy gap within a generation;
• To halve the gap in mortality rates for Indigenous children under five within a decade;
• To ensure access to early childhood education for all Indigenous four year olds in remote communities within five years;
• To halve the gap in reading, writing and numeracy achievements for children within a decade;
• To halve the gap for Indigenous students in year 12 attainment rates by 2020; and
• To halve the gap in employment outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians within a decade.

In addressing these targets, COAG has committed $4.6 billion over four years across early childhood development, health, housing, economic participation and remote service delivery, and has achieved a number of supportive commitments by the corporate and community sectors. Agreement has also been reached on the establishment of a new national Indigenous representative body, to be known as the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples.

References

1. Council of Australian Governments (2009) National Indigenous reform agreement (closing the gap). Canberra: Council of Australian Governments