Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage: Key Indicators 2011

Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage: Latest Data

The latest Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage report was released on 25 August. This is the most recent in a series of reports commissioned by the Council of Australian Governments in 2002, to track the extent to which government policies and programs are making a difference to the lives of Indigenous Australians.

Gary Banks, who chairs the inter-governmental Steering Committee responsible for the report, said 'the latest data still reveal considerable disparities in outcomes between Indigenous and other Australians. This applies across the six COAG 'closing the gap' targets, as well as for over 40 other significant indicators. And progress in closing those gaps has been mixed'.

Of the 45 quantitative indicators in the report, available data show improvement in outcomes for 13 indicators — including in employment, educational attainment and home ownership. For 10 indicators, including many health and school education outcomes, there has been no significant improvement, while for another seven, including social indicators such as criminal justice, outcomes have actually deteriorated.

The report reflects ongoing improvements in data collections, but data to measure change over time were not available for one third of the indicators in this edition. Gary Banks strongly supported governments' commitment to improving data availability and quality. He also praised the contributions of all those who participated in report consultations, from within government and the wider community, particularly Indigenous people.

The report is a product of the Review of Government Service Provision. It is overseen by a Steering Committee comprising senior officials from the Australian, State and Territory governments and supported by a secretariat from the Productivity Commission.

• Strategic framework (PDF - 306 Kb)
• Men and women (PDF - 133 Kb)
• Children and young people (PDF - 145 Kb)
• Major cities (PDF - 170 Kb)
• Regional areas (PDF - 179 Kb)
• Remote areas (PDF - 200 Kb)

The following  errata have been issued for Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage: Key Indicators 2011 . The chapters and appendices on the website have been amended to reflect  these errata.

Overview

The paragraph on employment on page 5 of the overview has  been amended — an apparent increase in  the employment to population ratio for Indigenous people (from 50.7 per  cent to 53.8 per cent) was not statistically significant.

The first key message in box 10 on page 23 has been amended — an apparent increase in the employment  to population ratio for Indigenous people (from 50.7 per cent to 53.8 per  cent) was not statistically significant.

• Errata - Overview p.5 (PDF - 73 Kb) | (Word - 69 Kb)
• Errata - Overview p.23 (PDF - 252 Kb) | (Word - 70 Kb)

Chapter 4: COAG  Targets and headline indicators

The first key message in box 4.6.1 on page 4.59 and related  text on page 4.63 have been amended —  an  apparent increase in the employment to population ratio for Indigenous people  (from 50.7 per cent to 53.8 per cent) was not statistically significant.

Figure 4.6.2 on page 4.64 was incorrectly based on data for 2004-05,  which has now been revised to 2008.

• Errata — Chapter 4 COAG Targets and headline  indicators pp. 4.59 to 4.64 (PDF - 172 Kb) | (Word - 80 Kb)

Chapter 8: Economic  participation

Data in the first paragraph on page 8.8 on COAG’s target for  Indigenous public sector employment and the proportion of Indigenous people in  the Australian public sector have been corrected.

• Errata — Chapter 8 Economic participation p. 8.8 (PDF - 74 Kb) | (Word - 60 Kb)

Chapter 9: Home  environment

Data for the ACT and Tasmania in the second bullet point  under figure 9.1.1 on page 9.8 have been corrected.

• Errata — Chapter 9 Home environment p. 9.8 (PDF - 32 Kb) | (Word - 55 Kb)