Evaluating the Impact of Closing the Gap

This report evaluates the impact of closing the gap in Australia, focusing on the successes of community development and identifying problems within the program. Solutions to these problems are also discussed.

Running head: EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF CLOSING THE GAP
Case Study Report
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1EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF CLOSING THE GAP
Table of Contents
Abstract:.....................................................................................................................................2
Introduction:...............................................................................................................................3
Discussion..................................................................................................................................4
Summarise the successes of Community Development.............................................................4
Identification of problems of the program(s):............................................................................5
Solutions to identified problems: What could improve the program?.......................................6
Recommendations:.....................................................................................................................7
Conclusion:................................................................................................................................9
Reference List..........................................................................................................................10

2EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF CLOSING THE GAP
Abstract:
This report endeavours to provide understanding related to term closing the gap. The
discussion involves the sociological description of successful urban aboriginal society
development by the aboriginal population for the aboriginal individual within Australia. The
report assesses the essential national effort until the date to develop the Tores-Strait Islander
and Aboriginal wellbeing within the community. The COAG or Council of Australian
Government leading closing the gap campaign aims to accomplish equality for community
people within 25 years. The two of the stage, including community development and
community building, has been identified as an effective program under society enhancement.
The report also explains the success of the community development program initiated by the
Australian government. The issues within the program have also be recognized, along with
providing the probable solution to recognized issues. Each solution has been evaluated in
terms of their disadvantage and advantages. Later, the conclusion has been drawn based on
findings and recommendation for recognized issues have been given in context to be
practical, achievable and realistic.

3EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF CLOSING THE GAP
Introduction:
Provide a brief summary of the Closing the Gap Policy
Closing the Gap has been improved in response to the entitlement of social justice campaign
and social justice report. The closing the gap policy refers to a government plan that focuses
on reducing disadvantages among Torres-Strait Islander and Aboriginal people related to
child mortality, availability of early childhood education, employment outcome, educational
accomplishment and life-expectancy. It has been formal assurance made by every Australian
government to accomplish Torres-Strait Islander and Aboriginal health equality within 25
years (Healthinfonet, 2019). In the year 2008, COAG approved to the NIRA or National
Indigenous Reform Agreement. The policies outlined by COAG to 'close the gap' are
challenging and ambitious to measure. In order to achieve targets adequately monitored and
placed into action, COAG recognized several building blocks like healthy homes, economic
participation, schooling, early childhood, safe communities, leadership and government to be
addressed under closing the gap (The Lowitja Institute, 2019). This approval offers an
inclusive overview of the phase being considered to accomplish the closing the gap targets
under Closing the Gap policy involving related objective, performance measures,
benchmarks, outcomes and output via national partnership agreement.
This report will be produced based on the case study 'community development' in addressing
disadvantages and developing indigenous wellbeing. The case study relates to the
sociological account of the successful community development history of the Aboriginal
community by the Aboriginal individual for the Aboriginal individual within the Australian
city of Newcastle. The case study depicted the significance of community development and
community building to the generation of urban aboriginal social infrastructure that is argued
at the crux of the indigenous self-determination within Newcastle.

4EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF CLOSING THE GAP
Discussion
Summarise the successes of Community Development
The more current 'closing the gaps' and 'practical reconciliation' has been positioned forward
as the structure on which to depend and analyze policies to address indigenous disadvantages.
There has been stable development in several socioeconomic results as gauged by standard
social indicator within the past 35 years. The findings are at remarkable odds with the
recently leading discourse of failure within Indigenous affairs. The economic engagement
underpinned by cultural engagement leads to the widely developed social outcome. It needs
collaborative effort from indigenous leaders and a huge emphasis on a place-dependent
solution while building correct condition for an individual to sense they may participate.
Gordon (2015) added that for aboriginal individual community development becomes useless
in the absence of social and cultural enhancement or investment. It is sometimes forgotten
that a large number of the indigenous population is in Australia, where urban region causes
certain challenges for such population covering homelessness, disenfranchisement,
unemployment, racism, dispossession, and huge rate of connection with the criminal justice
system. On the contrary, urban regions have been sites of large achievement of the
indigenous population due to mobilization of metropolitan indigenous communities, social
infrastructure, revitalization of language and indigenous culture. Such form of effective urban
indigenous-driven society development and establishment has led success in the high level of
indigenous education, employment, communal innovation, entrepreneurship and social
mobility. Howard-Wagner, 2018) argued that one of seven existing Closing the Gap indicator
directly linked to community development. The respect target aims to halve the gap between
employment results by the year 2018 that has not been on track to success. The beginning of
closing the gap plan between the year 2015 and 2008, the indigenous employment level has
reduced by 5.4% (Jacobs, 2019). The decline of 2.4% has also noted in the total Australian
employment rate; however, a huge fall within the direct employment gap usually improved
from 3% to 24.2%. Given that over 91% of Torres-Strait Islander and Aboriginal workers,
along with over 80% of non-Indigenous Australians are employees. Employment remains a
crucial factor in the strategy. It has been essential to refresh strategy to incorporate a focus on
the broader principle of wealth making and community development. Howard-Wagner
(2018) argued that aboriginal community enhancement is socially constructed procedure,

5EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF CLOSING THE GAP
where the aboriginal population intentionally participate in re-weaving Aboriginal's social
fabric. The two-stage method has been used to achieve the success of aboriginal-driven
community enhancement, including community development and community building. The
community development has been led through forming society controlled aboriginal
corporate with a sound governance framework and structure of democratic depiction within
the urban region (Howard-Wagner, 2019). Stage one of the communities building focused on
forming the aboriginal developed society, aboriginal activists participating in leadership and
establishing community-controlled aboriginal co-operative. Within stage, two related to
community development, the Australian government gave essential emphasis on building
cultural and social infrastructure along with improving well being and tackling aboriginal
disadvantages. The family violence to be a widespread and serious problem within Australia,
it has been the main priority spot for the government (Closing the Gap, 2019). Family
violence requires to be considered within a wider context as both effect or cause or impact
intergenerational trauma, substance misuse, poor patenting and social disadvantage. It
remains a crucial social policy concern, posting a big burden on the community. The success
of family-violence impediment programs achieved by the practitioner under the principle of
local-cultural correctness that is adaptability or flexibility, sound communication capability to
respond to altering situation impacting targeted community like communication barrier,
cultural obligation. Education has been key to closing the gap among non-indigenous and
indigenous employment rate. The adequate effort by the government towards the betterment
of the community has increased initiated levels of attainment and participation by Indigenous
Australians in training and education in current years. All these have been an admirable
success; however, the Australian government need significant resources in real ceding of
supervision to Torres-Strait Islander and Aboriginal peoples.
Identification of problems of the program(s):
In the past 25 years, there has been development in the economic status of Australia. The
country has enjoyed and witnessed many benefits from these developments. However, there
is one group, which has still not benefited and left off from the rising status of Australia.
There have been tries within the aboriginal and Torres Strait islander populations in
Newcastle city of Australia. It has been stated that aboriginal and Torres Strait or indigenous
population of Australia has been facing issues of lack of child mortality rate. In the age of 25-
29 years, most of the individuals under this group have been suffering mental health issues

6EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF CLOSING THE GAP
(Dw, 2019). There has been lack of education and proper arrangements of living and
employment that has increased rate of suicides among the indigenous peoples in Australia.
Most of the population under this group does not seem able to complete their higher studies
and becoming more addictive to drugs and alcohol consumptions. Domestic violence and
racism have been another issue faced by the indigenous peoples in Australia. In the 18th
centre, the racism policies have been seen at its peak (Altman, Biddle & Hunter, 2008). The
children were aboriginal children’s were forcefully separated from their families and
incorporated with the urban Australian population. The racism has been witnessed at the peak
until the 1970's, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait peoples were still struggling to live and hold
their lands. Australian federations have taken the step of removal of the children and shifting
to urban areas was focused on educating them. This act has been majorly carried out in the
year of 1969 and 1970. The forceful; shifts of the children has increased the mental and
psychological issues within the aboriginal population. They are facing problems with
cooperating and interacting with the peoples having other languages. The policies and
programs initiated and introduced by the government of the country have provided little
improvement in the quality of life of Aboriginal and Torres Strait population in the country.
Another issue that has been identified within this group is identity controversy (Howard-
Wagner, 2019). Among the people of this group, the right to be called indigenous has been a
matter of debate and discussion in the country. It has stated that there has been an age
difference between the indigenous and non-indigenous populations. The indigenous peoples
are much younger than the non-indigenous peoples in the country are. If an aboriginal
individual age is 21 on the same range, and non-indigenous will be stated as the age of 37.
Due to the difference in age, the life expectancy of the indigenous peoples and birth rate is
entirely different. This means the population issue is one of the concerning problems of
indigenous peoples or aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations.
Solutions to identified problems: What could improve the program?
The healthcare needs are one of the prioritised right and possible solution to the aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander populations. The gap between aboriginals and non-aboriginals
population in Australia is not closing; rather, it is widening year after year. It has stated that
diseases and suicides among the aboriginal population are 2.3 times higher in comparison to
the no aboriginal population (Theguardian, 2019). The increase rate of the healthcare and
wellbeing campaign for this population might decline the increased disease and health issues.

7EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF CLOSING THE GAP
In the earlier discussion, it has observed that within the age of 25-29, the aboriginal
populations are facing mental health issues and psychological issues. Thus, the introduction
of healthcare organisations might help to reduce such issues within the aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander populations. The advantage of this proposes solution is, the aboriginal
population’s health issues would be declined. The mental struggles and heretical occurrences,
such as racism that has affected them would be cared and treated through primary health care
appearances (Howard-Wagner, 2018). The disadvantage of healthcare and the medical
campaign is risks of the unacceptability of the aboriginal population. The group of the
population has been staying from decades and habitant of the specific lifestyle. The harsh
ignorance of the non-aboriginal population might have created bitter experiences. This senses
that the aboriginal peoples might not accept medial help from outsiders. The introduction of
community building will help to create a just society, in which the aboriginal population
could engage themselves in different activities (Altman, Biddle & Hunter, 2008). The
migration has taken place in the 1950s to 1970s, in which some of the indigenous people
shifted to Newcastle city in search of life, employment leaving behind a dark past. The
introduction of community and social environment help to increase interaction within the
aboriginal population.
This can improve their knowledge learning and decision making about the contemporary
issues they were facing from past decades. It has been stated that there has been less amount
of racism experienced by the aboriginal population in the workplace compare to working in
urban areas instead of working in rural areas. Thus, the development of community and
providing a societal environment could increase their engagement, through education and
employment. The benefits of creating community and social are the flow of information that
can educate the aboriginal population in the society (Howard-Wagner, 2019). The increase in
education increases their way of developing themselves. This could reduce the issue of lack
of self-development within the population. The community building also includes some
disadvantage as aboriginal peoples face challenges with interacting with the peoples having
different language and accent. Thus, they might not be able to make proper coordination
within society. In addition to that, there is a risk of increasing conflicts and civil tensions
between the aboriginal and non-aboriginal population in Newcastle city.

8EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF CLOSING THE GAP
Recommendations:
The issues of aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations have seen described as one of
the prioritised problem and challenge for the Australian government. It has stated that
increasing rate of diseases and additions towards drugs and alcohol has developed risks of
domestic violence’s. These are due to a lack of education and educational faculties. Thus, the
aboriginal of Australia might be proposed with building schools, colleges, training centres
and other educational institutions. These educational facilities could be provided free so that
aboriginal population can educate themselves without any issues, fear or mental pressures.
The lack of industrial and source of income has declined the engagement of aboriginals in
some productive activities. Thus, it might be proposed that business entities and industrial
entities could offer employment and increase their business units to provide aboriginals,
decent jobs and source of income. The increase in work might help to improve their quality
of life and reduce risks of their addictions to violence and drugs. Australian government
might introduce regular funding arrangement through specific programs for the aboriginal
population. As the economy of the country has developed from decades, the schemes and
funding programs can increase the lack of monetary issues of aboriginals. This might
improve their quality of life and decline health-related issues by priding better options for
consumption. Also, health care policies, domestic violence protection acts and aboriginal
rights might be modernised to increase rights and recognition of the left-out the population of
the country. The introduction of right policies increase healthcare facilities, free health
treatment and provide rightfulness of developing the lives of the aboriginal community.

9EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF CLOSING THE GAP
Conclusion:
In affirmation to the above study, it is concluded that the Australian government has made
several genuine efforts towards community development. The targets that have certain
success noted to have direct control by the government. The positive impact of the
community development program has been effective to create smart Torres-Strait Islander
and Aboriginal leaders, embracing, and developing, acknowledging a strong sense of
indigenous community identity. The aboriginal community organization has been key to
making the world a good place for Aboriginal people and empowered associational
community to take the lead of their individual lives. The program has been effective in
closing the gap of socioeconomic difference, however negative of the program often related
to the failure of government not to be tracked. The Australian government need to align
adequate resources with their initiative programs to be back on track in closing the gap
between Torres-Strait Islander and Aboriginal.

10EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF CLOSING THE GAP
Reference List
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gaps' in socioeconomic outcomes for Indigenous Australians?. Canberra, ACT: Centre
for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research (CAEPR), The Australian National
University. Retrieved 13 September 2019 from:
https://openresearchrepository.anu.edu.au/bitstream/1885/147387/1/2008_DP287_0.p
df
Dw (2019). How Australia is failing its indigenous people | DW | 29.11.2016. Retrieved 13
September 2019, from https://www.dw.com/en/how-australia-is-failing-its-
indigenous-people/a-36573151
Gordon S (2015). Baird governments rhetoric fails to match outcomes, Retrieved 13
September 2019 from
http://www.darkinjung.com.au/ContentFiles/Darkinjung/Documents/Blogs/
8.%20Baird%20Governments%20 Rhetoric%20Fails%20to%20Match%20Actions.
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Healthinfonet (2019). Closing the Gap - Health System - Australian Indigenous
HealthInfoNet. Retrieved 13 September 2019, from
https://healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/learn/health-system/closing-the-gap/
Howard-Wagner, D. (2018). Successful urban Aboriginal-driven community development: a
place-based study of Newcastle. Retrieved 13 September 2019 from
https://openresearchrepository.anu.edu.au/bitstream/1885/147391/1/
Discussion_Paper_293_2017.pdf
Howard-Wagner, D. (2018). Successful urban Aboriginal-driven community development: a
place-based study of Newcastle. Retrieved from Retrieved 13 September 2019
https://openresearchrepository.anu.edu.au/bitstream/1885/147391/1/
Discussion_Paper_293_2017.pdf
Howard-Wagner, D. (2019). Success in Closing the Socio-Economic Gap, But Still a Long
Way to Go: Urban Aboriginal Disadvantage, Trauma, and Racism in the Australian
City of Newcastle. The International Indigenous Policy Journal, 10(1), 3. Retrieved

11EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF CLOSING THE GAP
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article=1393&context=iipj
Howard-Wagner, D. (2019). Success in Closing the Socioeconomic Gap, But Still a Long
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article=1393&context=iipj
Jacobs, C. (2019). A FRESH APPROACH TO CLOSING THE GAP. Retrieved 13
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charles.pdf
The Lowitja Institute. (2019). Our Choices, Our Voices: A report prepared by the Lowitja
Institute for the Close the Gap Steering Committee. Close the Gap Steering
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https://www.lowitja.org.au/content/Document/Lowitja-Publishing/CtG2019_FINAL2
_WEB.pdf.
Theguardian.com (2019) White Australia can't solve black problems. White Australia is the
problem | Sarah Maddison. (2019). Retrieved 13 September 2019, from
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