tag:theconversation.com,2011:/global/topics/close-the-gap-28739/articlesclose the gap – The Conversation2023-02-07T01:45:18Ztag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1991862023-02-07T01:45:18Z2023-02-07T01:45:18ZThe cancer gap between First Nations and non-Indigenous people is widening – but better data could help<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/508285/original/file-20230206-13-g1khbo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=41%2C98%2C5395%2C3671&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/959597978/photo/man-working-at-home.jpg?s=1024x1024&w=gi&k=20&c=OMrTB8eY1mE_pj-cJdLM1D0Ce8rNQEokhBo0dDRyxbA=">Getty/Marianne Purdie</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Cancer figures provide stark evidence of the gap between the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous people in Australia. The difference is confronting – and it’s increasing over time. </p>
<p>Cancer is the leading broad <a href="https://www.indigenoushpf.gov.au/measures/1-08-cancer">cause of death</a> for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, accounting for 3,612 deaths (23% of deaths). Indigenous Australians are <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/cancer/cancer-in-australia-2021/summary">14% more likely</a> to be diagnosed with cancer. They are 20% less likely to survive at least five years beyond diagnosis. </p>
<p>While the likelihood of dying from cancer in the general population declined by 10% from 2010 to 2019, it <a href="https://www.indigenoushpf.gov.au/measures/1-08-cancer">increased</a> by 12% for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.</p>
<p>These figures highlight major challenges for the federal government’s stated aim to <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/BriefingBook44p/ClosingGap">close the life expectancy gap</a> in a generation. But data will also be critical to meeting this goal.</p>
<h2>Accurate and relevant data</h2>
<p>There continues to be limited visibility in the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer.</p>
<p>The recent <a href="https://www.worldcancerday.org/">World Cancer Day</a>, with its theme to “Close the care gap”, comes at a pivotal moment in our nation’s history, with momentum building towards a Voice to Parliament. </p>
<p><a href="https://ulurustatement.org/our-story/makarrata/">Makarrata</a> – treaty or agreement-making – has the potential to have a profound and positive impact on the health and healing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. At both the federal and state levels, the dialogue, yarning and truth-telling arising from this process acknowledges the history and trauma of dispossession, and its impact on generations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.</p>
<p>Much of this discussion is embedded in the need for constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ unique and enduring cultures, and better supporting leadership in their own affairs.</p>
<p>Viewing these aspirations through the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/health-equity/racism-health-disparities.htm">prism of cancer care</a> reveals a complex array of barriers to recognition and leadership. Systemic racism and limitations in appropriate, culturally safe health-care services continue to negatively impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ experiences and outcomes. </p>
<p>Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience limited access to health services within Western systems, as well as discrimination within those systems. This results in a <a href="https://equityhealthj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1475-9276-12-47">lack of trust</a> when dealing with governments and service providers.</p>
<p>Part of the solution will be gaining a more accurate picture of cancer outcomes. While statistics tell us the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer who die is increasing, the reality is likely far worse. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-020-01152-2">Research shows</a> Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cancer reporting is underestimated. One reason is the lack of identification of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in official health data.</p>
<p>A New South Wales study found 16% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were <a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-020-01152-2">not reported</a> on official hospital admissions data. There is a range of reasons for this, including whether or not services ask the required <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/getmedia/502680f6-b179-42fa-be71-8fd5d793d8d8/indigenous-identification-DLbrochure.pdf.aspx#:%7E:text='Are%20you%20%5Bis%20the%20person,exactly%20as%20it%20is%20worded.">Standard Indigenous Question</a> and the propensity or <a href="https://doi.org/10.3233/SJI-180491">willingness</a> for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to identify in the services they attend.</p>
<p>There have been a <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1753-6405.12114">range of efforts</a> to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander identification within the data, including linking multiple official data sources. But this is still yet to be appropriately implemented by governments.</p>
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<span class="caption">Patients may not be asked whether they are Indigenous – or be unwilling to share this information on hospital admission.</span>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/the-first-indigenous-covid-death-reminds-us-of-the-outsized-risk-nsw-communities-face-166888">The first Indigenous COVID death reminds us of the outsized risk NSW communities face</a>
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<h2>Tracking everyone’s cancer experiences</h2>
<p>Appropriate measures that reflect the experiences and needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer are desperately needed. </p>
<p>There have been some <a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-018-3780-8">promising developments</a> in this area, including the <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/12/6193">What Matters 2 Adults</a> study, which identifies factors important to the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. There’s also been work to measure the <a href="https://pxjournal.org/journal/vol8/iss2/9/">cancer care experiences</a> of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. But these tools are not used routinely in health-care services, which limits culturally relevant assessment of patients to improve their care. </p>
<p>Bridging the care gap requires health and cancer care services to provide culturally competent and safe health-care systems.</p>
<p>There have been some notable developments since the <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/A:1023064400004">first review</a> into Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cancer research and reporting in 2003. These include Cancer Council Australia convening the first ever round table on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cancer in 2004, followed by the first <a href="https://www.lowitja.org.au/page/research/research-categories/health-policy-and-systems/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-leadership/completed-projects/a-national-approach-to-improving-cancer-outcomes">national round table</a> on Priorities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cancer Research in 2010.</p>
<p>The latter brought together leading experts, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cancer survivors and community members, and representatives from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-controlled organisations.</p>
<p>At the policy level, the <a href="https://www.cancer.org.au/assets/pdf/optimal-care-pathway-for-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-people-with-cancer#:%7E:text=For%20Aboriginal%20and%20Torres%20Strait%20Islander%20people%2C%20optimal%20patient%2Dcentred,about%20treatment%20and%20ongoing%20care">Optimal Care Pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders</a> was released in 2018 along with an implementation plan in 2020. </p>
<p>The ongoing development of the <a href="https://engage.australiancancerplan.gov.au/#:%7E:text=The%20Australian%20Cancer%20Plan%20is,all%20Australians%20affected%20by%20cancer.">Australian Cancer Plan</a> by Cancer Australia is informed by the Leadership Group on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cancer Control. The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation is also developing a national cancer plan, and there are state and territory plans in development to better support the community-controlled sector.</p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/aboriginal-people-near-the-ranger-uranium-mine-suffered-more-stillbirths-and-cancer-we-dont-know-why-164862">Aboriginal people near the Ranger uranium mine suffered more stillbirths and cancer. We don't know why</a>
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<h2>Embedding equity</h2>
<p>If we are going to change the trend and close the cancer care gap, we need to embed equity as a core element within health systems and services. This will ensure appropriate resources are allocated to identify Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the data, as well as developing measures important to their cancer care. </p>
<p>We need to work to better understand and eliminate the barriers and challenges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people face. We can do this through supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices and leadership in research, education and health.</p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/explainer-what-are-cancer-clusters-24623">Explainer: what are cancer clusters?</a>
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<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Kalinda Griffiths receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Australian Research Council. She is also Thinker in Residence at the Australian Health Promotion Association. She is Research and Education Lead, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health at the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre Alliance. </span></em></p>While statistics tell us the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer who die is increasing, the reality is likely worse.Kalinda Griffiths, Scientia lecturer, UNSW SydneyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1803122022-03-31T04:41:29Z2022-03-31T04:41:29ZDoes the pre-election budget address ways to realistically ‘close the gap’ for Indigenous people?<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/455401/original/file-20220331-11-uujsku.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=19%2C29%2C6521%2C4285&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/photo/single-hand-of-a-young-indigenous-girl-on-the-rocks-royalty-free-image/1215447203?adppopup=true">Getty Images</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>As Treasurer Josh Frydenberg handed down the federal government’s pre-election budget on Tuesday night, I watched in anticipation to see what it would hold for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities. </p>
<p>It’s an important issue, particularly in light of the government’s <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-30/closing-gap-targets-agreement-aboriginal-torres-strait-islander/12506232">2020 commitment</a> to new targets to address the ever-growing disparities between Indigenous peoples and the rest of the population that have yet to be adequately addressed. </p>
<p>It was no surprise to see a strong budget focus on the cost of living. Petrol prices have surged past <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/petrol-prices-2-dollars-a-litre-record-14-year-highs-australia/72dc38f7-a292-4221-8280-f4942dd2c5ce">A$2 a litre</a>, and the cost of food is rising because of <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/australia/food-prices-set-to-soar-after-pandemic-heres-what-will-cost-the-most-c-5820307">COVID-19</a>, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/mar/04/weve-run-out-of-lettuce-supermarkets-and-restaurants-face-fresh-food-shortage-after-nsw-and-queensland-floods">floods</a> and <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-09/higher-food-prices-and-shortages-because-of-climate-change/100894158">climate change</a>.</p>
<p>Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese was quick to criticise the budget, likening it to “fake tan” and claiming that the one-off cost-of-living payments are more about winning the upcoming election than planning for the future. The problem with fake tan, he <a href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/federal-budget/fake-tan-scott-morrison-cops-brutal-budget-sledge-from-anthony-albanese/news-story/d5b3f4e5085a0984a731b5b9885bec60">said</a>, is that “it fades pretty quickly”. </p>
<p>Unfortunately, Indigenous people are used to disappointing budgets that lack the strategic planning needed to address real issues that Indigenous communities themselves constantly raise.</p>
<p>True, the cost of living is soaring for many Australians. But like all things, this is never an even playing field. The cost of living in remote Aboriginal communities beggars belief. It is so outrageous that it <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-05/gulf-residents-welcome-indigenous-food-price-inquiry/12312150">triggered a federal parliamentary inquiry in 2020</a>. </p>
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<p>Perhaps not unexpectedly, the inquiry <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-18/remote-queensland-communities-brace-for-skyrocketing-living-cost/100916786">failed to deliver any meaningful results</a>. Petrol prices have also been extremely high in rural and remote locations for a long time, significantly impacting Indigenous communities. For example, petrol prices have reached as high as <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-10/fuel-prices-rise-in-arnhem-land-to-over-3-dollars-per-litre/100898780">$3 a litre</a> in Arnhem Land.</p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/theres-1-3-billion-for-womens-safety-in-the-budget-and-its-nowhere-near-enough-180256">There's $1.3 billion for women's safety in the budget and it's nowhere near enough</a>
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<h2>What’s in the budget for us?</h2>
<p>So, what’s in the 2022 pre-election budget that will address the new targets set by the government? Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt said in his <a href="https://ministers.pmc.gov.au/wyatt/2022/2022-23-budget-delivering-stronger-future-indigenous-australians">budget-night press release</a> that the Morrison government has embarked on “the most ambitious Indigenous policy reform agendas”. </p>
<p>The federal budget should address the needs in the broader community, but also the targeted commitments that the government makes, such as those outlined in the Closing the Gap scheme. </p>
<p>The government has pledged $636.4 million in the 2022 budget over six years to expand Indigenous land and sea management on Country. This will provide more education and employment opportunities in remote and regional Australia. Given the lack of any real commitment to climate change, I guess the government is hoping Indigenous rangers will do the work so urgently required. </p>
<p>Housing in remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory has been allocated $408 million. The funding will be used for addressing overcrowding, homelessness and much-needed improvements to homes. The government has also allocated $183 million over the next three years to improve economic, social and health outcomes for Indigenous people in the NT.</p>
<p>Although homelessness and affordable housing is a major concern for Indigenous people across Australia, no funding was committed to other locations. Yet most Indigenous people live in urban areas. In Victoria, for example, the number of Indigenous people seeking help from services for housing issues <a href="https://home.kpmg/au/en/home/insights/2022/02/social-housing-aboriginal-homelessness-system-client-story.html">has increased by 33.6% over four years</a> – the highest rate for Indigenous people anywhere in Australia. </p>
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<h2>Is the budget addressing the Indigenous health gap?</h2>
<p>The <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/2022/03/29/whats-budget-first-nations-people">budget promises an estimated $16.2 million for Indigenous health spending across 2022-23</a>. Specifically, the funding is to combat blood-borne viruses and sexually transmissible infections in the Torres Strait, and improving trachoma control services. Australia is the <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/addressing-trachoma">only developed country where trachoma still exists</a>. It only impacts Indigenous people, and is directly related to overcrowding and poor housing conditions, including access to clean water and sanitation.</p>
<p>The federal government has also pledged $12 million towards combating rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in Indigenous communities, which continue to have one of the highest rates in the developed world. The ABC 4 Corners report <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/4corners/heart-failure:-an-investigation-into-the-hidden/13787308">Heart Failure</a> highlighted the ongoing impacts of racism in the health system and the appalling lack of healthcare provided.</p>
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<p>The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) has <a href="https://www.naccho.org.au/another-big-spending-budget-short-changes-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-health/">expressed disappointment</a> at what it describes as the budget’s failure to adequately fund Indigenous health, even though the disparities in health between Indigenous peoples and other populations in Australia are supposedly one of the key areas of the government’s commitment. </p>
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<p>The organisation’s chief executive, Pat Turner, said:</p>
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<p>As long as this $4.4 billion funding gap remains and as long as there are funding gaps elsewhere – in particular, in housing – we cannot expect the unconscionable health gap to close. This Budget is an opportunity lost. NACCHO calls upon the government to close the funding gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.</p>
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<p>Last year, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the “<a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-05/australia-indigenous-closing-gap-strategy-addressed-in-pm-speech/100348748">ultimate test</a>” of closing the gap would be that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in particular would have the same opportunities as other children in Australia. </p>
<p>On this scale, the federal government has failed miserably. Indigenous children in Australia are ten times more likely to be removed from their families. </p>
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<p><a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/2021/12/09/theyre-unacceptable-rates-removal-indigenous-children-increasing">Catherine Liddle</a>, chief executive of SNAICC, the national peak body for Aboriginal children and families, expressed the frustration Indigenous people have on this issue:</p>
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<p>People have been saying this for a long time, yet the change in investment and transformation to the system that’s required to fix it hasn’t followed through.</p>
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<p>Turner and Liddle both also highlighted the <a href="https://probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2022/03/it-has-not-delivered-first-nations-advocates-condemn-pre-election-budget/">considerable shortfall</a> in the commitment needed to meet the ambitious targets set out in the Closing the Gap agreement. </p>
<p>Overall, the budget falls short of adequate investment across key areas such as health, housing, education and employment. It also fails to provide funding to address the <a href="https://nirs.org.au/news/another-first-nations-death-in-custody/">high number of Indigenous deaths in custody</a> and to support families facing the financial burden of seeking legal justice. </p>
<p>Frydenberg acknowledged the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-30/budget-women-safety-violence-national-plan-funding/100950964">women’s safety crisis in Australia</a>, and the government has reiterated its support for a dedicated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Action Plan led by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Council on family, domestic and sexual violence. But the budget fails to fund Aboriginal family violence and legal services where resources are urgently needed.</p>
<p>The co-chair of the First Nations-led coalition Change the Record, <a href="https://probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2022/03/it-has-not-delivered-first-nations-advocates-condemn-pre-election-budget/">Cheryl Axleby</a>, said that if a budget was a reflection of a government’s priorities, it’s clear that First Nations’ needs are a long way down the list.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/180312/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Bronwyn Carlson does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>The federal government’s pre-election budget has addressed only some of the key issues Indigenous people face. More investment is still required if the government is serious about Closing the Gap.Bronwyn Carlson, Professor, Indigenous Studies and Director of The Centre for Global Indigenous Futures, Macquarie UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1785222022-03-13T19:16:18Z2022-03-13T19:16:18ZHow can Australia support more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teachers?<p>A major federal government review into how we train our teachers has just been <a href="https://www.dese.gov.au/quality-initial-teacher-education-review/resources/next-steps-report-quality-initial-teacher-education-review">released</a>. </p>
<p>This is part of the government’s push to improve Australia’s standing in the international education rankings. </p>
<p>The first two recommendations focus on the important role of Indigenous teachers. Namely, specifically targeting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in a national recruitment campaign.</p>
<p>The government has a history of trying to increase the numbers of Indigenous teachers. We must build on these earlier attempts and centre the voices of Indigenous peoples in implementing programs to support these recommendations if these are to lead to successful outcomes.</p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/invisible-language-learners-what-educators-need-to-know-about-many-first-nations-children-175917">Invisible language learners: what educators need to know about many First Nations children</a>
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<h2>The role of Indigenous teachers</h2>
<p>There is no shortage of <a href="https://nit.com.au/closing-the-gap-12-years-on-little-progress-high-hopes/">media coverage</a> about Closing the Gap in education. Yet we hear little about the role Indigenous teachers have been playing in Indigenous education over decades. </p>
<p>Australia’s <a href="https://www.aitsl.edu.au/teach/standards">professional standards for teachers</a> highlight the importance of having a teacher workforce capable of teaching Indigenous students, and teaching about Australia’s full histories and the importance of reconciliation.</p>
<p>Research also shows Indigenous teachers and support workers in schools bring a wealth of <a href="https://www.aitsl.edu.au/research/spotlights/the-impact-of-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-educators">additional knowledges</a> and skills to Australian schools. These knowledges can include local knowledge of Country, kinship groups, Indigenous languages, community dynamics and politics and embodied knowledges acquired through lived experiences of being an Indigenous person.</p>
<p>Indigenous students and indeed all Australian students benefit from seeing strong <a href="https://www.aitsl.edu.au/research/spotlights/the-impact-of-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-educators">Indigenous role models in schools</a>.</p>
<p>However, we also know some Indigenous teachers are encountering racism, have all Indigenous-related issues diverted to them and <a href="https://indigenousx.com.au/blak-representation-in-schools-is-imperative/">feel isolated</a>.</p>
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<img alt="A classroom with young students, with their hands raised." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/451151/original/file-20220309-21-cwvvoa.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/451151/original/file-20220309-21-cwvvoa.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/451151/original/file-20220309-21-cwvvoa.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/451151/original/file-20220309-21-cwvvoa.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/451151/original/file-20220309-21-cwvvoa.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/451151/original/file-20220309-21-cwvvoa.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/451151/original/file-20220309-21-cwvvoa.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Indigenous education provides all students with a rich and well-rounded knowledge of Australia’s history.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/photo/aboriginal-elementary-school-teacher-giving-a-royalty-free-image/909795536?adppopup=true">GettyImages</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>What are the ‘gaps’?</h2>
<p>In the <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/education/schools/latest-release#aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-students">last Australian Census</a> in 2016, Indigenous students accounted for 6.2% of all students.
At the <a href="https://www.acde.edu.au/acde-analysis-of-2016-census-statistics-of-aboriginal-torres-strait-islander-teachers-and-students/">same time</a>, 2% of Australian teachers identified as Indigenous. The data clearly show there is a gap in equality between Indigenous student numbers and Indigenous teacher numbers. </p>
<p>Currently, there is no national database on teacher retention. The recent <a href="https://www.aitsl.edu.au/research/australian-teacher-workforce-data/atwdreports">Australian Teacher Workforce Data report</a> provides an insight into the difference in retention rates between Indigenous and non-Indigenous teachers. Indigenous teachers were considerably more likely to intend to leave the profession before they retired (36%), in comparison to the overall teacher workforce (25%).</p>
<p>These are gaps we should be focusing on in Indigenous education policy.</p>
<h2>Past programs</h2>
<p>The severe shortage of Indigenous teachers has been on government radars for some time. In 2011-2015 the federal government spent A$7.5 million to increase Indigenous teachers in Australian schools.</p>
<p>This was a large investment and the only program of its kind. It was led by three of Australia’s leading Indigenous education scholars. The number of Indigenous teachers increased by <a href="https://www.edutech.com.au/matsiti/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/MATSITI-2016-Final-Report-1.0.pdf">16.5%</a> during this initiative. This improvement demonstrates what can be achieved under Indigenous leadership.</p>
<p>An <a href="https://www.edutech.com.au/matsiti/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/MATSITI-2016-Final-Report-1.0.pdf">evaluation</a> of the funding later found we need program reform and more policy on how to increase and retain Indigenous teachers. This includes a focus on improving graduation rates and leadership and workplace opportunities for current Indigenous teachers.</p>
<p>It also needs to include Indigenous teachers’ voices in understanding how to increase and retain Indigenous teachers. </p>
<p>But there has been limited action since this program ended in 2016 until now.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/for-the-first-time-closing-the-gap-has-a-higher-education-target-heres-how-to-achieve-it-147984">For the first time, Closing the Gap has a higher education target – here's how to achieve it</a>
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</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Indigenous-led research</h2>
<p>Much of the existing research has been on Indigenous teachers leaving the profession. But a critical resource is <a href="https://www.aare.edu.au/blog/?p=4767">those who have remained</a> despite the challenges. Ren Perkins’ PhD research is looking at this group and what we can learn from them.</p>
<p>Through listening to Indigenous teachers, this research explores why this cohort is staying in the profession beyond the average of <a href="https://www.aitsl.edu.au/docs/default-source/school-leadership/school-leader-guide-(online).pdf?sfvrsn=d113f63c_1">six years</a>. </p>
<p>While the study is not yet complete, one of the key themes emerging from this research has been the strength of identity and culture. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/preschool-benefits-indigenous-children-more-than-other-types-of-early-care-149724">Preschool benefits Indigenous children more than other types of early care</a>
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</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>Jemimah* shared her perspective on how identity is connected to her role as a teacher:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>I think it’s important for me to enter the field of education, to become part of the community that is Indigenous educators, in the hopes that one day, too, I can help a student find their own place in the schooling system […]</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Another Indigenous teacher, Sarah, shared how her identity informs how she teaches the curriculum, enriching learning experiences for all students: </p>
<blockquote>
<p>Quality teachers should know who all of your students are, but, in particular, why this subject is so important is because of where we are, whose land we’re on and what Country we’re teaching on. It’s a really important part of knowing our history and why we’ve come to this position.</p>
</blockquote>
<h2>What next?</h2>
<p>The recommendations from this latest report are timely. However, more support through specific programs and funding is needed to transform these recommendations into action.</p>
<p>There is expertise among Indigenous peoples about how to grow the Indigenous teacher workforce – we need to listen and use it. </p>
<p>*Names have been changed</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/178522/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Marnee Shay receives funding from the Australian Government and Edmund Rice Education Australia. She is a member of QATSIETAC Department of Education Queensland and a board member of the Xavier Flexi School Network.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Ren Perkins does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Indigenous education provides all students with a rich and well-rounded knowledge of Australia’s history. However research shows Indigenous teachers are scarce and poorly supported.Ren Perkins, PhD Candidate, School of Education, The University of QueenslandMarnee Shay, ARC Senior Research Fellow, School of Education, Affiliate Senior Lecturer, Centre for Policy Futures, The University of QueenslandLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1692452021-10-25T01:44:12Z2021-10-25T01:44:12ZGetting vaccinated is the act of love needed right now to support the survival of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples during the pandemic<p>Redfern’s Community Chaplain Pastor Ray Minniecon, recently made a compelling video urging people to get the COVID-19 vaccination. Pastor Minniecon regarded the simple act of becoming vaccinated as an <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/resources/videos/covid-19-vaccination-video-pastor-ray-minniecon-encourages-everyone-to-get-vaccinated-to-protect-loved-ones">act of love</a> for family and community, encouraging all to get vaccinated as quickly as possible.</p>
<p><div data-react-class="Tweet" data-react-props="{"tweetId":"1437340876041195525"}"></div></p>
<p>There have been many barriers for Aboriginal communities to access the vaccine and <a href="https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2021/214/5/indirect-impacts-covid-19-aboriginal-communities-across-new-south-wales">culturally safe health-care</a> during the pandemic. However for some communities, access to health services is a struggle that predates the COVID-19 pandemic. </p>
<p>Aboriginal people have faced decades of exclusion from government decision making resulting in <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanwpc/article/PIIS2666-6065(20)30007-9/fulltext">poor and inappropriate housing and service provision</a> which has impacted their health. </p>
<p>This did not change when the Commonwealth government declared Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as a <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/news/update-for-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-peoples-about-australias-covid-19-vaccines">priority community</a> during the initial roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine. </p>
<p>Aboriginal communities have struggled to get <a href="https://time.com/6092560/covid-19-australia-aboriginal-communities/">access</a> to the vaccine. Some were also concerned by <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2021-09-13/covid-19-vaccine-hesitancy-indigenous-communities/100451174">inconsistent messaging</a> about the vaccine from federal and state governments. </p>
<p>All of this has contributed to a lack of trust in governments to ensure the rights and needs of Aboriginal people and communities are met. </p>
<p>A big concern about the current levels of vaccination in community is for younger children, Elders and others ineligible or unable to get the jab. These people could face exposure to COVID and other significant diseases.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/whiteness-in-the-time-of-covid-australias-health-services-still-leaving-vulnerable-communities-behind-167701">Whiteness in the time of COVID: Australia's health services still leaving vulnerable communities behind</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Vulnerable communities taking the lead</h2>
<p>Communities recognised the threat of this outbreak early on with <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp2021/Chronologies/COVID19-IndigenousAustralians#_Toc47013368">actions</a> such as developing a pandemic response plan (<a href="https://www.apunipima.org.au/coronavirus-covid/">Apunipima, January 2020</a>) and the development of appropriate language resources for communities (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/NorthernLandCouncil">Northern Territory Land Councils, February 2020</a>.
In addition, The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation co-chaired the first <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/committees-and-groups/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-advisory-group-on-covid-19">Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group on COVID-19</a> in March 2020.</p>
<p>Particularly for those living in communities outside of urban and regional areas, the <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert/advice-for-people-at-risk-of-coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-peoples-and-remote-communities#why-remote-communities-are-at-risk">risks related to COVID-19</a> are exacerbated by many factors. These include existing chronic illnesses and disabilities, mobility of people between communities and regions, poor and overcrowded housing and reliance on health outreach for regular health care. </p>
<p>Much of the care to communities is through the 143 local <a href="https://healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/key-resources/health-professionals/health-workers/map-of-aboriginal-and-islander-healthmedical-services/">Aboriginal community controlled health</a> organisations and their 300 clinics. </p>
<p>Recent gains by the health sector in the <a href="https://www.pmc.gov.au/news-centre/indigenous-affairs/new-national-agreement-closing-gap">National Agreement on Closing the Gap</a> offers a new era of collaboration between government, non-government organisations and community-controlled organisations. Recently in Western NSW we saw the positive impact of such collaboration when combined efforts <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/ng-interactive/2021/aug/31/which-parts-australia-have-highest-vaccination-rate-by-state-nsw-sydney-victoria-melbourne-lga-suburb-check-your-area-vaccine-rates-number-coverage-percentage-percent-population-look-up-interactive-map">resulted in an increase of COVID-19 vaccine doses</a> from 20% first dose coverage to 70% in a month. </p>
<p>However these organisations - like many other health-care providers in Australia - are dealing with significant staffing shortages because of COVID-related workloads, furloughing of staff and of staff themselves becoming sick. </p>
<p><div data-react-class="Tweet" data-react-props="{"tweetId":"1433607381733109786"}"></div></p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/covid-in-wilcannia-a-national-disgrace-we-all-saw-coming-167348">COVID in Wilcannia: a national disgrace we all saw coming</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Low vaccination rates and poor housing in Aboriginal communities</h2>
<p>The current outbreaks of the COVID-19 Delta variant have highlighted the gap in health services for communities already under-serviced. Some of these communities have witnessed the virus “<a href="https://nacchocommunique.com/2021/07/27/naccho-aboriginal-health-news-27-july-2021/">rip through communities</a>”.</p>
<p>This is what has been seen in NSW and many other parts of Australia, despite the tremendous vaccine uptake of Aboriginal community members. Aboriginal people continue to be vaccinated at a rate that is 20% lower than the general population. This indicates devastating outbreaks will continue - not only in remote regions, but in communities closer to towns and cities. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2021/modelling-direct-and-herd-protection-effects-vaccination-against-sars-cov-2-delta">Modelling shows</a> this vaccine uptake lag could translate into a doubling of deaths.</p>
<p>Pat Turner, CEO of the <a href="https://www.naccho.org.au/">National Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation</a> argues that to protect communities, the aim must be to vaccinate as close as possible to 100% of Aboriginal people over the age of 12. <a href="https://iview.abc.net.au/video/NC2107H177S00">Auntie Pat</a>, whom Indigenous people will often title thus as a mark of respect, also describes how overcrowded housing and lack of places to quarantine has enabled the wildfire-like spread of COVID in some remote NSW communities, causing <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanwpc/article/PIIS2666-6065(20)30007-9/fulltext">sickness and loss of life</a>. </p>
<p>COVID is causing a further housing crisis in places where many Aboriginal people live. One example is the NSW North Coast where jobs have become precarious. This is due to long and fluctuating lockdowns and property demand from wealthy Sydney-siders anxious to <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-20/north-coast-rent-prices-off-the-charts/100303728">escape</a> to regional areas. </p>
<p>Escalating house prices diminished the already stressed stock of affordable rentals held by multiple housing organisations. In addition, rent rises under these conditions have pushed families into <a href="https://www.ncoss.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/A-WAVE-OF-DISADVANTAGE_-COVID-19_Final.pdf">homelessness, poverty</a> and <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165178120306491">higher risk of COVID infection</a>. </p>
<p>These challenges and others have been years in the making, with calls from Aboriginal organisations’ for a centralised housing support strategy <a href="https://www.echo.net.au/2021/03/storylines-call-for-aboriginal-housing-and-support/">falling on deaf ears</a>. </p>
<p>The pandemic has amplified ongoing inequalities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Communities have been placed at risk of losing their jobs and roofs over their heads at the same time. Overcrowding and homelessness bring multiple risks to health and well-being. These risks range from infectious diseases to mental health and safety concerns. </p>
<p>Uncle Ray’s and Auntie Pat’s messages, along with those of many other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/1753-6405.13172">epidemiologists</a>, <a href="https://www.croakey.org/innovative-research-explores-responses-to-covid-19-among-indigenous-communities-in-brisbane/">researchers</a>, <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/resources/videos/dr-mark-wenitong-find-out-the-facts-of-covid-19-vaccines">doctors</a>, <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/resources/videos/covid-19-vaccination-video-aboriginal-nurse-mandy-debenham-encourages-us-all-to-get-tested-and-vaccinate">nurses</a>, <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/2021/09/09/its-escalating-redfern-rallies-combat-covid-19-after-infection-spike">health-workers and community leaders</a>, are exactly what Australia needs right now. Why? because not leaving anyone behind is a characterisic of how we care for one another.</p>
<p>As Auntie Yvonne Cadet-James says:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>People shouldn’t be listening to gossip, there’s a lot of that in the media […] the more we get vaccinated, the more we build up that immunity as a community, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtI1CbpXJzE">so that protects everybody</a>.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The message is clear - get vaccinated, look after one another, don’t leave anyone behind. Find love in your heart and act to protect yourself, your family and your community. </p>
<p>For government, Auntie Pat says, the time for others to make decisions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is over.</p>
<p>Now is the time to address the long standing inequities in health, well-being and the ongoing housing and employment crisis impacting Aboriginal people. </p>
<p>During this age of COVID, Australians must show the world our full capability to listen, get behind and champion the rights and needs of Aboriginal people.</p>
<p>We have never been so strong. And we can’t leave anyone behind.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/169245/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Jennifer Barrett has received funding from the Australian Research Council. </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Kalinda Griffiths receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Australian Research Council. She is also Thinker in Residence at the Australian Health Promotion Association.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Emma McBryde, Ian Ring, Jason Agostino, Lisa Jackson Pulver, Melissa Haswell, and Michael Doyle do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>There have been many barriers for Aboriginal communities to access the vaccine during the pandemic. Despite this, communities are taking the lead in ensuring everyone gets vaccinated.Lisa Jackson Pulver, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor of Public Health and Epidemiology, University of SydneyJennifer Barrett, Pro Vice Chancellor Indigenous (Academic) and Director, National Centre for Cultural Competence, University of SydneyKalinda Griffiths, Scientia lecturer, UNSW SydneyMelissa Haswell, Professor of Practice in Environmental Wellbeing, Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Indigenous Strategy and Services), University of SydneyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1638092021-07-29T02:22:47Z2021-07-29T02:22:47ZHow can the new Closing the Gap dashboard highlight what indicators and targets are on track?<p>The <a href="https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-social-justice/publications/close-gap-2021">2021 Close the Gap report</a> declared the national agreement on Closing the Gap “a game changer” that sets a new standard for how governments work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and communities.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.closingthegap.gov.au/national-agreement">national agreement</a> was signed a year ago and put its signatories on a 12-month timetable for action.</p>
<p>Since then, the Productivity Commission has released a new <a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/closing-the-gap-data">dashboard</a> for reporting on the government’s progress across 17 key socioeconomic indicators and on priority reforms when the data is available. The first report based on this data has been released <a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/closing-the-gap-data/annual-data-report">today</a>. </p>
<p>We are now at a crucial moment, with the federal, state and territory governments and the Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peaks due to hand down their implementation plans and begin the task of annually reporting on their actions.</p>
<p>So, what will the new report provide and what else do we need to ensure the national agreement lives up to its promise for improved Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing?</p>
<h2>Data on expanded socioeconomic targets</h2>
<p>The minister for Indigenous Australians, Ken Wyatt, <a href="https://ministers.pmc.gov.au/wyatt/2021/making-closing-gap-data-more-accessible">said</a> the dashboard will bring all the data together </p>
<blockquote>
<p>so that people can readily see the current situation and trajectories of indicators for each target, providing a level of transparency and access that we haven’t had before.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>At this stage, the dashboard includes data on the <a href="https://www.closingthegap.gov.au/closing-gap-targets-and-outcomes">17 socioeconomic targets</a> outlined in the national agreement, expanding on the original seven Closing the Gap targets on life expectancy and other health issues.</p>
<p>The expanded targets, which our people had urged for years, include the wider social and cultural determinants of health, such as language, housing, child protection, family violence, social and emotional wellbeing, and land and water access and rights.</p>
<p>These targets provide a focus on critical areas of need that have been long neglected in government policy.</p>
<p>Targets 10, 11 and 12, for instance, seek to address over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the criminal justice and child protection systems. This is crucial given the failures to implement the recommendations of the 1991 Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/closing-the-gap-data/dashboard/socioeconomic/outcome-area16">Outcome Area 16</a> is to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and languages are “strong, supported and flourishing.” </p>
<p>However, it appears the target only addresses languages, calling for a sustained increase in the number and strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages being spoken by 2031. The dashboard reports there are 123 currently spoken, but only 14 languages considered “strong”.</p>
<p>While language is a vital component of culture, it is only one of the <a href="https://www.lowitja.org.au/page/services/resources/Cultural-and-social-determinants/culture-for-health-and-wellbeing/defining-the-indefinable-descriptors-of-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-peoples%E2%80%99-cultures-and-their-links-to-health-and-wellbeing">cultural determinants of health</a> for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.</p>
<p>Therefore, there is an opportunity to further expand the data and reporting for this target to include other components of culture, such as cultural knowledge, expression and continuity, and strong kinship systems. </p>
<p>The reliability of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander data is also an issue. For example, the life expectancy indicator requires both census and mortality data, but the most recent census may undercount Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Products/3238.0.55.001%7EJune+2011%7ETechnical+Note%7EEstimated+Resident+Aboriginal+and+Torres+Strait+Islander+Population+%E2%80%93+Method+of+Calculation+%28Technical+Note%29?OpenDocument">approximately 17%</a>.</p>
<p>In addition, there is <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/indigenous-australians/improving-indigenous-identification-mortality/contents/table-of-contents">evidence</a> that misclassification of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander deaths is increasing over time, potentially inflating life expectancy and artificially closing the gap. Therefore, improving the quality of data will be beneficial to all. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/for-too-long-research-was-done-on-first-nations-peoples-not-with-them-universities-can-change-this-163968">For too long, research was done on First Nations peoples, not with them. Universities can change this</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="Aboriginal half-naked men with white stripe on his body and groin cloth strike defiant poses while kneeling on the ground." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/413224/original/file-20210727-19-1ihqv0b.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/413224/original/file-20210727-19-1ihqv0b.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/413224/original/file-20210727-19-1ihqv0b.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/413224/original/file-20210727-19-1ihqv0b.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/413224/original/file-20210727-19-1ihqv0b.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/413224/original/file-20210727-19-1ihqv0b.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/413224/original/file-20210727-19-1ihqv0b.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The continuation of cultural knowledge, expression, and strong kinship systems needs to be a priority with Closing the Gap targets.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/">Claudine Van Massenhove/ Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Exploring new ways to track progress</h2>
<p>The dashboard is a positive step, but just reporting on the 17 targets alone cannot deliver the change we need.</p>
<p>It is imperative we track progress on the four priority reform areas in the national agreement. They are:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>sharing decision-making through formal partnership arrangements with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations</p></li>
<li><p>building the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled sector</p></li>
<li><p>improving mainstream institutions and government organisations</p></li>
<li><p>sharing access to data and increasing the amount of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led data.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>These reforms provide momentum for a critical shift in the current approach to data reporting and most significantly, the way all governments and mainstream organisations work with us.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/for-too-long-research-was-done-on-first-nations-peoples-not-with-them-universities-can-change-this-163968">For too long, research was done on First Nations peoples, not with them. Universities can change this</a>
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<p><div data-react-class="Tweet" data-react-props="{"tweetId":"1420535770507476994"}"></div></p>
<h2>Addressing racism in these reforms</h2>
<p>According to the dashboard, data to address the indicators for each priority reform is currently under development.</p>
<p>For example, in the <a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/closing-the-gap-data/dashboard/priority/reform3">third priority reform area</a> is a target to decrease the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have experiences of racism. </p>
<p>Data will include the numbers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people “reporting experiences of racism” and those who feel “culturally safe in dealing with government, mainstream institutions and agencies”. However, this data is yet to be collected by governments, let alone reported on.</p>
<p>And significant work remains to be done across government institutions and agencies to ensure they better understand what racism is and implement strategies to prevent racism from occurring.</p>
<h2>Why stories and truth-telling also matter</h2>
<p>A recommendation from the 2021 Close the Gap report was to invest in local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander data development and infrastructure to help communities collect better data and control what is done with it.</p>
<p>For the database to fully play the critical role intended, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples need to have access to and control of the data that it draws on, particularly at the local community level.</p>
<p>For us, data are not simply numbers. This data represents our story as peoples, so the numbers need to be humanised and embodied through both story-telling and truth-telling.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/first-nations-families-need-support-to-stay-together-before-we-create-another-stolen-generation-159131">First Nations families need support to stay together, before we create another Stolen Generation</a>
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</em>
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<p>We can look to the <a href="https://theconversation.com/community-wellbeing-best-measured-from-the-ground-up-a-yawuru-example-64162">work</a> of Mabu Liyan by the Yawuru people who stepped away from a Western-centric view of health and, with their communities, defined what wellbeing and a good life mean to them. </p>
<p>This is an excellent example of communities filling gaps in the data and collecting information that is important to them, an approach that needs to become the rule rather than the exception.</p>
<p>The Productivity Commission’s database is a great step forward and we eagerly await further developments, knowing they will have a stronger focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander language and narratives to assist in interpreting the data.</p>
<p>However, the database still relies on data from a Western-centric world view, and we are yet to see details from governments about how they plan to meet both the targets and reforms in the national agreement.</p>
<p>A comprehensive way to access data on Closing the Gap progress is helpful, but human commitment and transparency is what will achieve change. This work requires nationally reported planning, a commitment to monitoring and evaluation, and mechanisms for gathering data on actions taken and outcomes achieved.</p>
<p>Better data, including data owned by communities themselves, and better ways of working with us are the missing pieces of the puzzle. They need to be fully embraced and implemented if we are to truly have “a game changer”.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/163809/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Janine Mohamed does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>The Closing the Gap dashboard includes data on the 17 socioeconomic targets in the national agreement. But this information isn’t enough on its own to bring real change.Janine Mohamed, Distinguished Fellow, George Institute for Global HealthLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1477462020-10-13T04:31:11Z2020-10-13T04:31:11ZThe budget has more money for school programs for Indigenous boys than girls<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/362606/original/file-20201009-17-1u0yhr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-illustration/3d-australian-aboriginal-flag-illustration-1073414249">Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>The recent federal budget included <a href="https://www.dese.gov.au/budget-2020-21">A$39.8 million</a> to expand the Clontarf Foundation’s Academy program for 12,500 Indigenous boys and young men. </p>
<p>The <a href="https://clontarf.org.au/">Clontarf Foundation</a> aims to improve confidence in Indigenous young men, and help them finish school and find work. </p>
<p>A study conducted by one of us, Beth Madsen, (using data from the Australian government’s <a href="https://grants.gov.au">grants information system</a>), has found the Clontarf Foundation received A$74,809,900 in federal grants between July 2014 and July 2019. </p>
<p>While Clontarf’s aim to support young men is important, it receives significantly more funding than other programs, including those that support young women. </p>
<h2>What programs get funding?</h2>
<p>Beth Madsen’s PhD study has been mapping funding to nine external service providers that aim to improve school attendance for Indigenous students across Australia. The nine programs each received federal grants of more than A$1 million between July 2014 and July 2019. </p>
<p>The programs received a total of $123,660,900 in funding for the same period. A program with the Clontarf Foundation, designed to work solely with Indigenous boys, was the top funded. The $74,809,900 in federal grants it received made up about 60% of the total funding across the nine programs. </p>
<p>Between 2014 and 2019, the federal government funded four programs (out of the nine studied) to work with young Indigenous women: the Girls Academy, run by Role Models and Leaders Australia ($12,100,000), the Stars Foundation ($16,324,000), the Shooting Stars Program, run by Glass Jar Australia ($8,800,000) and the Cairns Hockey Aspire to be Deadly Program ($3,124,000). </p>
<p>These programs combined received a total of $40,348,000 (around 33% of the total funding for the nine programs), a little more than half of what the Clontarf Foundation received. The remaining 7% of funding for these nine programs was for programs that work with both genders. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/closing-the-gap-in-indigenous-literacy-and-numeracy-not-remotely-or-in-cities-88704">Closing the gap in Indigenous literacy and numeracy? Not remotely – or in cities</a>
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<p>It’s important to note the Clontarf Foundation works with a larger number of young people than the four other programs combined. And some of the female-targeted programs <a href="https://starsfoundation.org.au/about-us/">have acknowledged</a> their inspiration comes from the Clontarf Foundation’s reported successes. </p>
<p>Still, multiple programs must compete to attract grants to support Indigenous young women.</p>
<p>So, why are Indigenous boys’ programs receiving <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-02/what-explains-the-indigenous-school-academy-funding-divide/9494820">significantly higher funding</a> than girls’ programs? Arguments Indigenous boys are being left behind in relation to school attendance and year 12 completion are not supported by the government’s own data.</p>
<p>According to the 2019 <a href="https://www.niaa.gov.au/sites/default/files/reports/closing-the-gap-2019/sites/default/files/ctg-report-20193872.pdf">Closing the Gap report</a>, school attendance for Indigenous girls is only 1.3% higher than attendance rates for Indigenous boys. The report also outlined only marginally more Indigenous young women (aged 20-24) are likely to have a Year 12 or equivalent qualification to their male peers — around a 3% difference. </p>
<h2>Independent, Indigenous-led evaluation is crucial</h2>
<p>Aside from the issue of the gender split of public funding, many have called for more comprehensive, transparent and easy-to-access data on how effectively public funded programs create positive outcomes over time. This evaluation should be independent and Indigenous-led.</p>
<p>A recent report by the <a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/indigenous-evaluation/draft/indigenous-evaluation-draft-guide.pdf">Productivity Commission noted</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>there continues to be limited evidence about the effectiveness of many policies and programs designed to improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. </p>
</blockquote>
<p>A 2010 <a href="https://research.acer.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1045&context=indigenous_education">report</a> on programs that aimed to improve school attendance and retention of Indigenous Australian students noted:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>A review of the literature that evaluated which programs work to increase attendance or retention found that there were very few high-quality
evaluations that had been conducted in this area.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Another study <a href="https://nintione.com.au/resource/CW002_RemoteEducationSystems.pdf">noted</a>, in general, there was “a lack of rigour around the collection, reporting and evaluation of the value” of programs that aimed to improved outcomes of Indigenous students.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/the-imagination-declaration-young-indigenous-australians-want-to-be-heard-but-will-we-listen-121569">The Imagination Declaration: young Indigenous Australians want to be heard – but will we listen?</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
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<p>In short, many expert voices have called for greater monitoring and evaluation of publicly funded programs aimed at improving outcomes for Indigenous students. </p>
<p>There are endless possibilities for funding to be re-imagined to respond to local needs. Evidence, rigour and equity are crucial to ensuring funding is allocated to achieve the best results.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/147746/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Beth Madsen is supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship. </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Marnee Shay receives funding from the Australian Research Council and Edmund Rice Education Australia.
Marnee Shay is a member of the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education and Training Advisory Committee (QATSIETAC) with the Department of Education Queensland.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Sue Creagh does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Programs for Indigenous young men’s education are funded at a higher rate than for young women. There is little rigorous evaluation for these programs, and what evidence there is isn’t Indigenous-led.Beth Madsen, PhD Candidate (confirmed) and casual academic at the University of Queensland, The University of QueenslandMarnee Shay, Senior Lecturer and Senior Research Fellow, School of Education and Centre for Policy Futures, The University of QueenslandSue Creagh, Lecturer, The University of QueenslandLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1315702020-02-11T19:20:01Z2020-02-11T19:20:01Z‘Closing the Gap’ process will better involve Indigenous Australians: Morrison<p>Scott Morrison is expected to warn against adopting a “deficit mindset” towards progress on Indigenous disadvantage, when on Wednesday he presents the twelfth “Closing the Gap” report, which shows disappointing results on key targets.</p>
<p>The prime minister will give details of the government’s major overhaul of the assessment process, saying that until recently Closing the Gap was never a partnership with Indigenous people. “We believed we knew better – we don’t”.</p>
<p>Among the current seven targets, those not met or not on track are for child mortality, school attendance, literacy and numeracy (where there is improvement), employment (which is stable), and life expectancy.</p>
<p>Those “on track” are in the areas of childhood education and year 12 attainment.</p>
<p>Morrison will say “we must see the gap from the viewpoint of Indigenous Australians before we can hope to close it”.</p>
<p>He says, in a draft of his speech, “the targets don’t celebrate the strengths, achievements and aspirations of indigenous people. They don’t tell you what’s happening on the ground or stirring under it.</p>
<p>"They don’t tell you how realistic or achievable these targets were in the first place. They reinforce the language of failing and falling short and they mask the real progress that has been made.”</p>
<p>Morrison says that on “almost every measure” there has been progress - although not as much as should have been made by now.</p>
<p>The government’s “refreshed” process is billed as aiming to deliver shared responsibility and accountability.</p>
<p>“There remains much more to do and we will do it differently by working together,” Morrison says. “By going from good intentions and sky-high aspirations to local, practical action that’s driven by local leaders and local needs with clear accountability and responsibility and a clear line of sight to the community.”</p>
<p>The federal government and the Coalition of Peaks (a group of about 50 community-controlled peak organisations) are working together with the states and territories to produce a new national agreement on Closing the Gap. This is to set out shared priorities for the next decade.</p>
<p>The structure and targets of the revamped scheme are to be finalised in April and then will go to the Council of Australian Governments.</p>
<p>It is planned to have some 15 targets, with a more specific and measurable path to them. The Closing the Gap program was started by the Rudd government.</p>
<h2>The results from the latest report are:</h2>
<p><strong>Child Mortality</strong> - Target: Halve the gap in mortality rates for Indigenous children under five within a decade (by 2018) – Not met.</p>
<ul>
<li><p>in 2018, the Indigenous child mortality rate was 141 per 100,000 —twice the rate for non-Indigenous children (67 per 100,000)</p></li>
<li><p>since the 2008 target baseline, the Indigenous child mortality rate has improved slightly, by about 7%. But the mortality rate for non-Indigenous children has improved at a faster rate and so the gap has widened.</p></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Early Childhood Education</strong> - Target: 95% of all Indigenous four-year-olds enrolled in early childhood education (by 2025) – On track.</p>
<ul>
<li><p>in 2018, 86.4% of Indigenous four-year-olds were enrolled in early childhood education compared with 91.3% of non-Indigenous children</p></li>
<li><p>between 2016 and 2018, the proportion of Indigenous children enrolled in early childhood education increased by almost 10 percentage points. There was a slight decline of less than one percentage point for non-Indigenous children</p></li>
<li><p>the attendance rate for Indigenous children was highest in inner-regional areas (96.6%), almost 17 percentage points higher than the lowest attendance rate in very remote areas (79.7%).</p></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>School Attendance</strong> - Target: Close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous school attendance within five years (by 2018) – Not met.</p>
<ul>
<li><p>the majority of Indigenous students attended school for an average of just over four days a week in 2019. These students mostly lived in major cities and regional areas</p></li>
<li><p>school attendance rates for Indigenous students have not improved over the past five years. Attendance rates for Indigenous students remain lower than for non-Indigenous students (around 82% compared to 92% in 2019)</p></li>
<li><p>gaps in attendance are evident for Indigenous children as a group from the first year of schooling, and the gap widens during secondary school. In 2019, the attendance rate for Indigenous primary school students was 85% -— a gap of about nine percentage points. By Year 10, Indigenous students attend school 72% of the time on average — a gap of about 17 percentage points.</p></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Literacy and Numeracy</strong> - Target: Halve the gap for Indigenous children in reading, writing and numeracy within a decade (by 2018) – Not met but improvements.</p>
<ul>
<li><p>at the national level, the share of Indigenous students at or above national minimum standards in reading and numeracy has improved over the decade to 2018. The gap has narrowed across all year levels by between three and 11 percentage points</p></li>
<li><p>despite these improvements, in 2018 about one in four Indigenous students in years 5, 7 and 9, and one in five in year 3, remained below national minimum standards in reading. Between 17 to 19% of Indigenous students were below the national minimum standards in numeracy</p></li>
<li><p>between 2008 and 2018, the share of year 3 students exceeding national minimum standards in reading increased by about 20 percentage points.</p></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Year 12 Attainment</strong> - Target: Halve the gap for Indigenous Australians aged 20–24 in Year 12 attainment or equivalent attainment rates (by 2020) – On track.</p>
<ul>
<li><p>in 2018–19, 66% of Indigenous Australians aged 20–24 had attained year 12 or equivalent</p></li>
<li><p>between 2008 and 2018–19, the proportion of Indigenous Australians aged 20–24 attaining year 12 or equivalent increased by 21 percentage points. The gap has narrowed by 15 percentage points, as non-Indigenous attainment rates have improved at a slower pace</p></li>
<li><p>the biggest improvement in year 12 attainment rates was in major cities, where the gap narrowed by 20 percentage points — from 26 percentage points in 2012–13 to six percentage points in 2018–19.</p></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Employment</strong> - Target: Halve the gap in employment outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians within a decade (by 2018) – Not met (stable).</p>
<ul>
<li><p>in 2018, the Indigenous employment rate was 49% compared to 75% for non-Indigenous Australians</p></li>
<li><p>over the decade 2008–2018, the employment rate for Indigenous Australians increased slightly (by 0.9 percentage points), while for non-Indigenous Australians it fell by 0.4 percentage points. Thus the gap has not changed much</p></li>
<li><p>the Indigenous employment rate varied by remoteness. Major cities had the highest employment rate at 59%, compared to 35% in very remote areas. The gap in employment outcomes was widest in remote and very remote Australia.</p></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Life Expectancy</strong> - Target: Close the life expectancy gap within a generation (by 2031) – Not on track. </p>
<ul>
<li><p>in 2015–2017, life expectancy at birth was 71.6 years for Indigenous males (8.6 years less than non-Indigenous males) and 75.6 years for Indigenous females (7.8 years less than non-Indigenous females)</p></li>
<li><p>over 2006 to 2018, there was an improvement of almost 10% in Indigenous age-standardised mortality rates. But non-Indigenous mortality rates improved at a similar rate, so the gap has not narrowed</p></li>
<li><p>since 2006, there has been an improvement in Indigenous mortality rates from circulatory disease (heart disease, stroke and hypertension). But this has coincided with an increase in cancer mortality rates, where the gap is widening.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>Meanwhile, in response to some disquiet in the Coalition party room on Tuesday, Morrison gave an assurance that it would be consulted on the design and timing of the proposed referendum for indigenous recognition the government aims to run this term.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/131570/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>The 12th Closing the Gap report shows disappointing results on key targets, including child mortality, school attendance literacy and numeracy, employment and life expectancy.Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of CanberraLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/615022016-06-26T20:00:04Z2016-06-26T20:00:04ZIndigenous suicide rates in the Kimberley seven times national average<p><a href="https://www.mja.com.au/">Results of a new audit</a> tell a tale that is, sadly, all-too-familiar across the Top End of Australia. Rates of Indigenous suicide in the Kimberley region over the last ten years were seven times the national average. </p>
<p>While the national rate is about <a href="http://www.mindframe-media.info/for-media/reporting-suicide/facts-and-stats">12 people dying by suicide for every 100,000</a> people, rates in the Kimberley region were 74 people per 100,000. We also found the rate of suicidality (people talking about or threatening to suicide) among Indigenous populations in this region was about ten times that of the general population in Australia.</p>
<p>This ever-rising tide helps confirm that two worlds, with widely differing experiences of life (and death), are living in this country. </p>
<h2>Effects of colonisation</h2>
<p>This is not “news”. The scenario of such widely differing rates of suicide between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples living in colonised countries has been <a href="http://spjp.massey.ac.nz/books/bolitho/Chapter_3.pdf">well documented around the globe</a> including in North America, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.</p>
<p>Indigenous suicide may be considered one of the “downstream” effects of the processes involved in colonisation, followed by further cultural disruption in the wake of efforts to decolonise. </p>
<p>In many ways it is difficult to disentangle Indigenous suicide causally from so many other related calamities – increased exposure to domestic violence, childhood trauma and sexual abuse, and the ravages of alcohol, and now, ice abuse.</p>
<p>In marked contrast, prior to colonisation and all that came with it, suicide <a href="http://www.nt.gov.au/lant/parliamentary-business/committees/ctc/youth-suicides/Submissions/Sub%20No.%2008,%20Robert%20Parker,%20Top%20End%20Mental%20Health,%20Part%202,%2029%20Sept%202011.pdf">appears to have been unknown</a> in traditional Indigenous society.</p>
<p>Indigenous suicide <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16574613">has been characterised as</a> one potential outcome of an intergenerational transmission of mass trauma – including massacres, being pushed off traditional lands, policy resulting in the loss of parent/child attachments (Stolen Generations), social inequality and institutionalised racism. </p>
<p>The custodial system was one setting in which Indigenous suicide emerged – a population in which Indigenous Australians continue to be <a href="https://theconversation.com/indigenous-incarceration-in-australia-at-a-glance-57821">vastly overrepresented</a>. In the spotlight of extensive media coverage of the <a href="http://www.naa.gov.au/collection/fact-sheets/fs112.aspx">Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody</a>, awareness of Indigenous suicide was migrating into the c ycommunity in the 1990s, and in the ensuing decades the rates have soared.</p>
<p>Our data confirms the most at risk group are Indigenous youth, and as if this was not worrying enough, <a href="http://www.news.com.au/national/western-australia/calls-for-nation-action-after-girl-10-commits-suicide/news-story/5e7977e6a128d7916b5f309ec92b8be8">now children are also at risk</a>. </p>
<p>We know world-wide those transitioning into adulthood <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2885157/">appear at increased risk</a>. In our study we found 68% of those who suicided were under 30 years old, and 27% were under 20. And although originally predominately affecting males, female Indigenous youth suicide and suicidality are now increasing.</p>
<h2>Is there a solution?</h2>
<p>Elevated Indigenous suicide rates may be seen as perhaps the most poignant marker of the additional psychological and physical burden many in the contemporary Australian Indigenous population, especially in a rural and remote setting such as the Kimberley, face. </p>
<p>But tragic though these rates are, they are just the tip of the iceberg. </p>
<p>As we widen out our field of view, we encounter suicidality behaviours (such as self harm) at rates of ten times those experienced by the non-Indigenous population, Indigenous <a href="https://theconversation.com/indigenous-incarceration-in-australia-at-a-glance-57821">incarceration rates</a> at 2,253 people in 100,000 compared to 146 in 100,000 in the non-Indigenous population, severe housing problems including overcrowding, more infectious disease, more chronic disease, and a lifespan that is <a href="http://www.aihw.gov.au/deaths/life-expectancy/">ten years lower</a> than the non-Indigenous population.</p>
<p>The situation our findings attest to is not unique to the Kimberley, or for that matter Australia.</p>
<p>As we look for solutions it is clear well-intentioned organisations and individuals throughout the colonised world have been searching for a good answer for a long time. </p>
<p>Finding a way to fix the problems that lead to Indigenous suicide has proved to be a complicated issue without a simple, incisive, short-term solution.</p>
<p>We have to find a new way, led by true cultural respect and partnership, evidence, and long-term commitments to empower and instil hope into each Indigenous generation as it emerges, if we are to gradually turn the tide.</p>
<hr>
<p><em>If this article has raised issues for you or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/61502/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Murray Chapman does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Results of a new audit tell a tale that is, sadly, all-too-familiar across the Top End of Australia.Murray Chapman, Associate Professor, School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, The University of Western AustraliaLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.