Closing the gap

The Gillard Labor Government  will support hard working families, to support the mums and dads who are doing it tough to provide for their kids and get them a good education. Where social norms have broken down, we will work with communities to build stronger families and lift expectations and aspirations.

Rewarding personal responsibility will continue to be a core aim of our programs, recognising those quiet achievers in our community who demonstrate, day in and day out, the value of hard work, team work and spirit.

We will continue to put the welfare of children at the centre of our efforts, and tackle alcohol abuse, and family violence through the actions outlined in our Indigenous Family Safety Agenda.

Policy Update

On February 9th Prime Minister Julia Gillard delievered the 2011 Closing the Gap Report to the Parliament.

Election Closing the Gap Policy Statement

Policy Update: Budget 2011-12

The Gillard Government is delivering on our commitment to close the gap in Indigenous disadvantage with a $526.6 million boost to education, employment and health services for Indigenous Australians.

Closing the gap is a national goal, which requires the Australian Government to work in partnership with the state and territory governments, businesses, not for profit organisations, Indigenous people and the wider community.

Our unprecedented investment of $5.75 billion over three years is beginning to change the lives of Indigenous people by delivering improved services, better houses and healthier communities, but a sustained effort is required.

The 2011-12 Budget continues the Government’s efforts to address the disadvantage following decades of underinvestment.

Health

• The Government will invest $1.8 billion to improve regional health infrastructure, through the Health and Hospitals Fund Regional Priority Round. Indigenous Australians will particularly benefit from $113.4 million of this funding invested in 15 new or expanded Indigenous health clinics and 40 new renal dialysis chairs over 5 years from 2011-12.
• The Government is providing $205.9 million over five years to deliver much-needed allied health services to around an extra 180,000 Australians, including 18,000 Indigenous Australians.
• The Government is providing $208.3 million over five years for an extra 425 community mental health workers, called Personal Helpers and Mentors, to work one on one with an additional 3,400 people with severe mental illness, including Indigenous Australians. 
• To improve the quality and safety of health services delivered to Indigenous Australians, the Government will provide $35 million over four years to continue the Establishing Quality Health Standards program.
• The Government is providing $8.5 million over four years from 2011 12 to 2014-15 to expand and reform the support available for women experiencing domestic violence. 
• The Government is providing additional funding of $28 million under the Regional Aviation Access Program (RAAP) over two years from 2011-12 to 2012-13. 

Bringing them Home and Link Up Programs for the Stolen Generations

• The Government will provide $54.4 million over five years to continue counselling, family tracing and reunion services for members of the Stolen Generations currently provided under the Bringing them Home and Link Up programs.
• The services will be delivered under a cohesive social and emotional wellbeing program ensuring more people in need can access the services and allowing more flexible models of delivery.

Cape York Welfare Reform

• The Government will provide $16.1 million to continue the Cape York Welfare Reform Trial in the communities of Aurukun, Coen, Hope Vale and Mossman Gorge for one year to 31 December 2012.

Indigenous Broadcasting

• As part of the Australian Government’s interim response to the Review of the Australian Government’s Investment in the Indigenous Broadcasting and Media Sector released in April 2011, we have announced that National Indigenous Television (NITV) will receive operational funding of $15.2 million for 2011-12.

Education and Employment

• $50.7 million for the Indigenous Youth Career Pathways Program to give up to 6,400 Indigenous students the opportunity to get a school based traineeship;
• $4.1 million over three years to trial the  Indigenous Ranger Cadetships initiative in six schools in regional and remote Australia from 2012, followed by a further six schools from the start of the 2013 school year. The Cadetship will give Indigenous students the opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge they need to become a ranger with nationally-recognised qualifications;
• $171.3 million to extend a range of programs to support educational outcomes for Indigenous students in schools across the country delivered under the Indigenous Education (Targeted Assistance) Act;
• $233 million through the Building Australia’s Future Workforce package for new measures to support the very long-term unemployed move into employment. About 17 percent of very long-term unemployed job seekers are Indigenous people;
• $6.1 million over four years for Jobs Services Australia to pilot culturally appropriate mentoring supports for Indigenous job seekers mentoring will also be available for pre-placement support; and
• $1 million to allow greater flexibility for employment service providers in remote areas to work better with job seekers, many of whom are Indigenous, to secure sustainable jobs and meet employers’ needs.