Closing the Gap Time Series Atlas

Published: 2019 (updated July 2021)

Introduction

Closing the Gap seeks to improve the lives of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. This Time Series Atlas focuses on the Closing the Gap targets (targets as at February 2018) for the Aboriginal population, with comparisons with the non-Indigenous population, at the Indigenous Area and Indigenous Region level.

For further details of the Closing the Gap strategy, its history and performance, see the summary here, from a report produced by PHIDU for the Division of Health Systems, World Health Organization, Regional Office for the Western Pacific. Manila, Philippines.

The Atlas

PHIDU has presented data at the sub-state and territory geographic level for the targets and supplementary information reported in the Closing the Gap: Prime Minister’s Report 2018 [1]. Where data were not available for the targets or supplementary information presented in the Report, PHIDU has reported on proxy measures that we believe are informative of the targets. A list of the targets and other measures presented in this atlas is available here.

The geographic level is the 408 Indigenous Areas, designed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics for the presentation of data about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Where data could not be obtained at this geographic level, data are presented for the next level in the hierarchy, the 37 Indigenous Regions: the data so affected are for child mortality (for both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and non-Indigenous women) and smoking in pregnancy for non-Indigenous women.

National Agreement on Closing the Gap, July 2020

A new arrangement was put in place from July 2020, As stated here https://www.closingthegap.gov.au/

“All Australian governments are working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, their communities, organisations and businesses to implement the new National Agreement on Closing the Gap at the national, state and territory, and local levels."

This is an unprecedented shift in the way governments have previously worked to close the gap. It acknowledges that to close the gap, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people must determine, drive and own the desired outcomes, alongside all governments.

This new way of working requires governments to build on the strong foundations Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have, through their deep connection to family, community and culture.”

PHIDU will update this resource against the new targets during the 2021/22 financial year.

Reference

Commonwealth of Australia, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Closing the Gap: Prime Minister’s Report 2018. Available from: Closing the Gap: Prime Minister’s Report 2018; accessed 17 June 2019.

Key Findings

Education

At the 2016 Census, young non-Indigenous Australians (aged 15 to 19 years) were 24% more likely than Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people to be engaged in school, work or further education/ training; however the gap between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous population has narrowed from 45% higher in 2006 to 24% in 2016. A similar result was found for full-time participation in secondary school education at age 16, with the gap narrowing from 57% higher among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in 2006 to 24% in 2016.

Employment

Employment rates for both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous people have decreased marginally over the period from 2006 to 2016, dropping from 84.3% to 81.6% and 94.9% to 93.2%, respectively. However, the differential in rates between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people has increased, from 12% higher in 2006 to 14% higher in 2016. This widening of the gap was not evident in all States/ Territories, with New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory showing a narrowing. There was, however, a large increase in the gap in the Northern Territory, from 14% higher in 2006 to 32% higher in 2016.

Child mortality

Mortality rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children have declined by 37.9% over the nine years from 2002-06 to 2011-15; rates also decreased among the non-Indigenous population, dropping by 20.9%. The gap in rates for Indigenous and non-Indigenous has also narrowed, with Indigenous child mortality rates two and a half times higher in 2002-06, decreasing to just under twice the rate in 2011-15.

Premature mortality (revised, as noted above)

While a large differential still exists in mortality rates before 75 years of age for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous people the gap has narrowed since 2002-06. Over the years 2002 to 2006, the rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people was 3.4 times that for non-Indigenous people: in the latest period shown here, it was three times.
A decrease of 11% was recorded in the rates among the non-Indigenous population over the period from 2002-06 to 2011, whereas a more substantial decrease was recorded among the Indigenous population (down by 23%).

View Closing the Gap Time Series Atlas

Closing the Gap Time Series Atlas: Maps (premature mortality data revised, as noted above)

Indigenous Areas (IARE) Double map

The IARE Double Map enables users to select two different indicators to compare on two synchronised maps within the same view.

IARE Double map with time series graphs

The time series - line chart shows change in indicator values over time.

Note: Hold your mouse over a geographic feature in the map, data table or bar chart to view a trend in the chart. Click a feature in the map, data table or bar chart to select it and freeze the trend in the time series - line chart.

IARE Double map with correlations

The two indicators selected are also presented as a Scatterplot to assess potential correlations.

Indigenous Regions (IREG) Double map

The IREG Double Map enables users to select two different indicators to compare on two synchronised maps within the same view.

IREG Double map with time series graphs

The time series - line chart shows change in indicator values over time.

IREG Double map with correlations

The two indicators selected are also presented as a Scatterplot to assess potential correlations.

Closing the Gap Time Series Atlas: Data workbooks (premature mortality data revised, as noted above)

View Notes on the data

Authored by PHIDU