Productivity Commission review shows ECEC progress being made in Closing the Gap

A point-in-time snapshot of Australia’s progress under the National Agreement for Closing the Gap has found modest improvements in life outcomes for children and better early childhood development, however, the report noted that five targets are not on track. 

Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney welcomed the Productivity Commission’s second Closing the Gap Annual Data Compilation report, which she says will help all parties to “maintain momentum and progress against the targets”.

“There are some disappointing results in the latest figures – it’s clear that more work needs to be done,” she added. 

Off-track targets include: 

• Children being developmentally on track when they commence school
• Out-of-home care rates
• Adult imprisonment
• Deaths by suicide
• Sea country rights and interests.

Modest improvements in four Closing the Gap targets relate to:

• Life outcomes for children
• Better early childhood development with healthier birth weights
• Higher rates of school attendance
• Lowering youth detention rates.

“Closely and regularly monitoring the progress towards agreed objectives and outcomes is a key part of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and our Government is committed to making data publicly available so that parties can make informed decisions about what is and isn’t working,” Ms Burney said. 

A meeting of the Joint Council on Closing the Gap will be held in Adelaide on 26 August 2022 to discuss the way forward on targets.

The Commonwealth has been working with parties to the National Agreement, on the development of the first Commonwealth Closing the Gap Annual Report to be released later this year.

The Annual Data Compilation Report is available on the Productivity Commission website.