Closing the Gap aims to improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians by ensuring we work in partnership with First Nations Australians to deliver change.
The National Agreement on Closing the Gap was launched on 30 July 2020. This is the first time a National Agreement has been developed and negotiated in genuine partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The Agreement recognises that a shift in how we develop and implement government policies and programs is required for significant improvements in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' life outcomes to be achieved.
Queensland is home to the nation's second-largest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population. The Queensland Government is working in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through their representatives, at the national, state and local level, to ensure a focus on achieving long-term social and economic outcomes for Queensland’s First Nations peoples.
Underpinned by the Path to Treaty and Local Thriving Communities reforms, the Queensland Government is committed to reframing the relationship with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders, working to address historical and ongoing economic and social injustices, and recognising First Nations peoples’ sovereignty and right to self-determination.
A range of resources have been developed to better understand the National Agreement, and how it was developed.
Under Priority Reform Four – Sharing data and information to support decision making, the Queensland Closing the Gap Snapshot Report 2023 (PDF, 1.7 MB) has been designed in a way that provides visual presentation of data that is informative, accessible and easy to understand, so that First Nations Queenslander’s can consider what is happening at a local context, to make decisions about their futures.
Visit www.closingthegap.gov.au/resources for key resources, reports and marketing materials.
At the national level, all jurisdictions are held accountable for progress on Priority Reforms and Targets through the Productivity Commission’s Closing the Gap national data dashboard and Annual Data Compilation Report. Jurisdictions are held accountable for progress on delivering on the commitments in the National Agreement through an Implementation Tracker.
The Queensland Government recently released the:
Further detail on our reports can be found below.
The Queensland Government Closing the Gap Annual Report 2023 (PDF, 1.4 MB) Queensland Government Closing the Gap Annual Report 2023(DOCX, 860 KB) is an important marker of Queensland’s progress in meeting our commitments under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
The Queensland Government is entering the third year of implementation of the National Agreement, a 10-year agreement between Australian governments and the Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peak Organisations to improve life outcomes for Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples that are equal to those of all Australians.
This year’s report considers:
The Queensland Closing the Gap Snapshot Report 2023 (PDF, 1.7 MB) provides an overview of data collated that measures the progress against nineteen socioeconomic outcome areas under the National Agreement.
The report also identifies outcome areas where more effort is needed to meet the targets in Queensland and drive transformative change in partnership with First Nations peoples.
This year’s report shows we are making positive change in early childhood education, healthy birthweight, employment, land and waters. Below are some brief statistics:
The Queensland Closing the Gap Implementation Plan 2023 (PDF, 2.2 MB) Queensland Closing the Gap Implementation Plan 2023(DOCX, 1.4 MB) details how the Queensland Government is working to address the Priority Reforms and socio-economic targets in the National Agreement, and how our progress will be evaluated.
The Implementation Plan reflects the Queensland context, and what we have heard from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples about their ambitions for their lives and communities.
Based on feedback by the National Coalition of Peaks and the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Coalition, the Implementation Plan gives greater focus to developing partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, embedding the Priority Reforms and highlighting the interrelationships between the current 17 socio-economic targets.
The Implementation Plan also highlights a number of initiatives and partnerships underway to drive improvement across priority areas, and documents the ongoing significant structural reforms the government is implementing to change how we share decision-making with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The Queensland Closing the Gap Partnership Stocktake 2023 (PDF, 1.6 MB) Queensland Closing the Gap Partnership Stocktake 2023(DOCX, 924 KB) was undertaken across government to provide a baseline of our partnerships in terms of strong partnership elements, as required under Clause 32 of the National Agreement.
The Stocktake provides an overview of how the Queensland Government is progressing with the priority reform of strengthening and establishing formal partnerships and shared decision making with First Nations peoples.
The Stocktake highlights the strong partnerships that have been developed and implemented across government so that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and organisations have a direct say in how policy and programs are developed.
The Queensland Government is working with First Nations partners on Queensland’s Closing the Gap governance arrangements to elevate the focus, to coordinate our efforts and shared decision-making, and to enhance accountability.
A draft Governance Framework has been developed for further engagement with First Nations organisations and partners, including the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Coalition, with a focus on whole-of-government, cross-portfolio collaboration that will position Queensland to effectively contribute to Closing the Gap.
The draft Governance Framework seeks to integrate existing First Nations governance groups and networks into a partnership approach that reflects the four Priority Reforms and 19 socio-economic targets outlined in the National Agreement.
(PDF, 1.7 MB)
Last reviewed:11 November 2024
Last modified:11 November 2024
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence
We pay our respects to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ancestors of this land, their spirits and their legacy. The foundations laid by these ancestors—our First Nations peoples—give strength, inspiration and courage to current and future generations towards creating a better Queensland.
We will respect, protect and promote human rights within our decision-making and actions.
