” This report provides detailed information and analyses on the Closing the Gap targets, including the key drivers of change underpinning these targets.

This report provides context for policy debate and discussion for the Closing the Gap Refresh, a joint initiative of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG).

Today’s report summarises evidence on progress towards the seven Closing the Gap targets. These targets include: child mortality, school attendance, literacy and numeracy, employment, and life expectancy. Read the full report:

Download the 300 Page report HERE

AIH W Closing the Gap Targets Report

Information on this COAG initiative, and additional resources with updated data on the COAG targets are available at the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet website.

• Contents
• Acknowledgments
• Abbreviations
• Symbols
• Chapter 1: Overview
  • 1.1 Closing the Gap targets and progress
  • 1.1.1 About the targets
  • 1.1.2 Current picture and progress
  • 1.2 Key drivers of change
  • 1.3 Key themes across the targets
    • 1.3.1 Social determinants are critical
    • 1.3.2 Remoteness has a relatively large impact
    • 1.3.3 Improved access to services is needed
    • 1.3.4 Investment is needed across the lifecourse
    • 1.3.5 Interactions between outcomes are important
    • 1.3.6 Need more evidence on ‘what works’
  • 1.4 Data limitations
  • 1.5 Future target setting
  • 1.6 References
• Chapter 2: Child mortality target
  • Summary
  • 2.1 Background
  • 2.2 Current picture and progress
    • 2.2.1 National data on child mortality
    • 2.2.2 Child mortality by state and territory
    • 2.2.3 Age of childhood death
    • 2.2.4 Causes of death
  • 2.3 Key drivers of child mortality
    • 2.3.1 Evidence from the literature
    • 2.3.2 Evidence from new AIHW analyses
  • 2.4 Data limitations and measurement issues
    • 2.4.1 Child deaths data
    • 2.4.2 Population and births data
    • 2.4.3 Cause of death classifications
    • 2.4.4 Data on key determinants
  • 2.5 Bringing it together
    • 2.5.1 An overview
    • 2.5.2 Examples of opportunities for further progress
  • 2.6 References
• Chapter 3: Early childhood education target
  • Summary
  • 3.1 Background
  • 3.2 Current picture and progress
    • 3.2.1 National data on enrolment and attendance
    • 3.2.2 Enrolment and attendance by state and territory
    • 3.2.3 Attendance by remoteness
  • 3.3 Key drivers of participation in ECE
    • 3.3.1 Evidence from the literature
    • 3.3.2 Evidence from AIHW analysis of the LSIC
  • 3.4 Data limitations and measurement issues
    • 3.4.1 Comparable enrolment and attendance rates
  • 3.5 Bringing it together
    • 3.5.1 An overview
    • 3.5.2 Examples of opportunities for further progress
  • 3.6 References
• Chapter 4: School attendance target
  • Summary
  • 4.1 Background
  • 4.2 Current picture and progress
    • 4.2.1 National data on school attendance
    • 4.2.2 School attendance by state and territory
    • 4.2.3 School attendance by remoteness
    • 4.2.4 Patterns of student attendance
  • 4.3 Key drivers of school attendance
    • 4.3.1 Evidence from the literature
    • 4.3.2 Evidence from new AIHW analysis
  • 4.4 Data limitations and measurement issues
    • 4.4.1 Reporting on days of attendance
    • 4.4.2 Measuring student attendance rates
    • 4.4.3 Measuring students achieving 90% or more attendance
    • 4.4.4 Survey and longitudinal data sets
  • 4.5 Bringing it together
    • 4.5.1 An overview
    • 4.5.2 Examples of opportunities for further progress
  • 4.6 References
• Chapter 5: Literacy and numeracy target
  • Summary
  • 5.1 Background
  • 5.2 Current picture and progress
    • 5.2.1 National data on literacy and numeracy
    • 5.2.2 Literacy and numeracy outcomes by state and territory
    • 5.2.3 Literacy and numeracy outcomes by remoteness
    • 5.2.4 Progress towards the literacy and numeracy target
    • 5.2.5 Improvements in mean NAPLAN scores
  • 5.3 Key drivers of literacy and numeracy
    • 5.3.1 Conceptual framework on influences on child development
    • 5.3.2 Drivers based on analysis of NAPLAN data
    • 5.3.3 Drivers based on other literature
    • 5.4 Data limitations and measurement issues
  • 5.4.1 Use of the NMS
    • 5.4.2 Participation in NAPLAN testing
  • 5.5 Bringing it together
    • 5.5.1 An overview
    • 5.5.2 Examples of opportunities for further progress
  • 5.6 References
• Chapter 6: Year 12 or equivalent attainment target
  • Summary
  • 6.1 Background
  • 6.2 Current picture and progress
    • 6.2.1 National data on Year 12 or equivalent attainment
    • 6.2.2 Year 12 or equivalent attainment by geographic area
    • 6.2.3 Patterns of Year 12 or equivalent attainment
  • 6.3 Key drivers of Year 12 attainment
    • 6.3.1 Evidence from literature
    • 6.3.2 Evidence from new AIHW analysis of NATSISS data
  • 6.4 Data limitations and measurement issues
    • 6.4.1 Frequency of data
    • 6.4.2 Census data (main data source)
    • 6.4.3 Survey data (supplementary data source)
    • 6.4.4 Apparent retention rates
    • 6.4.5 Identifying drivers of Year 12 attainment
    • 6.4.6 Administrative data on educational attainment
    • 6.4.7 Components of Year 12 or equivalent attainment
  • 6.5 Bringing it together
    • 6.5.1 An overview
    • 6.5.2 Examples of opportunities for further progress
  • 6.6 References
• Chapter 7: Employment target
  • Summary
  • 7.1 Background
  • 7.2 Current picture and progress
    • 7.2.1 National data on employment
    • 7.2.2 Patterns of employment
  • 7.3 Key drivers of Indigenous employment
    • 7.3.1 Key drivers in the literature
    • 7.3.2 Evidence from new AIHW analysis
    • 7.3.3 Trends in Indigenous employment drivers
  • 7.4 Data limitations and measurement issues
    • 7.4.1 Frequency of Indigenous employment data
    • 7.4.2 Use of employment rates
  • 7.5 Bringing it together
    • 7.5.1 An overview
    • 7.5.2 Examples of opportunities for further progress
  • 7.6 References
• Chapter 8: Life expectancy target
  • Summary
  • 8.1 Background
  • 8.2 Current picture and progress
    • 8.2.1 National life expectancy
    • 8.2.2 Life expectancy by jurisdiction and remoteness
    • 8.2.3 Mortality patterns and trends
    • 8.2.4 Fatal burden of disease
  • 8.3 Key drivers of mortality and life expectancy
    • 8.3.1 Social determinants and risk factors
    • 8.3.2 Contribution of risk factors to the fatal burden
    • 8.3.3 Health system interventions
  • 8.4 Data limitations and measurement issues
    • 8.4.1 Deaths and population data
    • 8.4.2 Frequency of Indigenous life expectancy estimates
  • 8.5 Bringing it together
    • 8.5.1 An overview
    • 8.5.2 Examples of opportunities for further progress
  • 8.6 References