Group Digital Presentation on Closing the Gap Strategy - HEALT2114

This presentation provides an overview of the 'Closing the Gap' strategy, a government initiative aimed at reducing disadvantage among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The presentation focuses on the target of halving the gap in employment by 2018, discussing its significance, historical context, and associated social and cultural issues. It explores the financial, health, and educational benefits of employment, as well as the historical factors contributing to unemployment, such as limited market opportunities, discrimination, and inadequate training. The presentation highlights the importance of addressing employment gaps for health professionals, examining how unemployment impacts health awareness, cultural competence, and person-centered healthcare. It includes data on employment rates, gender disparities, and future projections, along with a discussion of various programs designed to improve indigenous employment. The presentation concludes by emphasizing the need for career-based education, employment services, and increased community awareness to achieve sustainable improvements in indigenous employment.

Half the gap in
employment by 2018
A ‘Closing the Gap’ strategy

‘Closing the Gap’ Strategy
 ‘Closing the Gap’ is a government
strategy
 Reducing disadvantage among
Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander people
 Supporting Early education,
Healthcare and employment

‘Closing the Gap’ Targets
 Close the gap in life expectancy by 2031
 Half the gap in child mortality by 2018
 95 percent early childhood education by 2025
 Half the gap in education by 2018
 Half the gap in year 12 attainment by 2020
 Half the gap in employment by 2018.
 Close the gap in school attendance by 2018

Half the gap in employment by 2018
 Financial benefit by the
employment
 Health Benefits of employment
 Educational benefits of
employment

Historical background of Unemployment
 Limited market opportunity
 Discrimination
 Poor training and skill level
 10%employement rate before
2005
 15% employment rate between
2005 to 2010

Social and Cultural Issues
Factors
 Discrimination
 Unacceptability
 Poor social awareness
 Low cultural value
 Social negligence
Outcomes
 Socio-psychological
inferiority
 Increasing stigmatization
 Lack of internist in
improvement
 Stereotypes within the
Aboriginal communities

How is a gap in employment an important consideration for
health professionals?
 Unemployment reduces health
awareness
 Gap in Holistic Approach
 Lower Cultural competence
 Gap in person centered
healthcare
 Poor social and cultural
understanding

How much target has achieved?
Figure 1: Employment Rate Comparison
Source: ()

How much target has achieved?
Figure 2: Employment Rate by gender
Source: (Closingthegap.pmc.gov.au., 2018)

Future Progression of target
 Community Development
Program
 Disability Employment Services
 Parents-Next
 Prison to Work
 Building an Indigenous
workforce in the public sector
 The Transition to Work service
 Career Trackers

Conclusion
 Career based education
 Employment Services
Tracking and Monitoring
 Sustainable improvement
of indigenous employment
 More investment on
employment services
 Increasing awareness in
community

References
Closingthegap.pmc.gov.au. (2018). Employment | Closing the Gap. Retrieved from https://
closingthegap.pmc.gov.au/employment
healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au. (2018). Closing the Gap - Health System - Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet.
Retrieved from https://healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/learn/health-system/closing-the-gap/
Gray, M., Hunter, B., & Lohoar, S. (2012). Increasing Indigenous employment rates. Retrieved from: http://
hdl.handle.net/1885/57798
Brereton, D., & Parmenter, J. (2008). Indigenous employment in the Australian mining industry. Journal of
Energy & Natural Resources Law, 26(1), 66-90., doi: 10.1080/02646811.2008.11435178
Daly, A. E. (2018). The employment of Aboriginal Australians in the labour market. Canberra, ACT: Centre for
Aboriginal Economic Policy Research (CAEPR), Research School of Social Sciences, College of Arts and
Social Sciences, The Australian National University. Retrieved from: http://hdl.handle.net/1885/145447
Altman, J. C., Biddle, N., & Hunter, B. H. (2009). Prospects for ‘closing the gap’in socioeconomic outcomes
for Indigenous Australians?. Australian Economic History Review, 49(3), 225-251., doi:
10.1111/j.1467-8446.2009.00264.x
Biddle, N., Taylor, J., & Yap, M. (2009). Are the Gaps Closing?: Regional Trends and Forecasts of Indigenous
Employment. Australian Journal of Labour Economics, 12(3), 263. ISSN: 1328-1143.