A Boongs Life

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Action Plan 2010

–

2014

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1. Introduction

Preface

Governments across Australia recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First

Australians with one of the oldest continuing cultures in human history. They affirm the right of

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to sustain their languages and cultures and acknowledge

associations with the land and water.

Governments have agreed to take urgent action to close the gap between the life outcomes of

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians. To drive action, the Prime Minister,

Premiers and Chief Ministers have agreed through the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) to

six ambitious targets:

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close the life expectancy gap within a generation;

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halve the gap in mortality rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children under five within

a decade;

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ensure all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander four year olds in remote communities have

access to early childhood education within five years (by 2013);

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halve the gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in reading, writing and numeracy

within a decade (by 2018);

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at least halve the gap in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Year 12 attainment or equivalent

attainment rates by 2020; and

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halve the gap in employment outcomes between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

Australians and other Australians within a decade (by 2018).

Achieving these targets will require significant effort and collaboration by governments, their agencies,

communities and the non-government, corporate and philanthropic sectors. Targets have been built

into funding agreements between the Australian Government and State and Territory Governments and

non-government education providers as part of national arrangements.

Members of the Ministerial Council for Education, Early Childhood Development and Youth Affairs

(MCEECDYA) have...