Chapter 4 - COAG targets and headline indicators - Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage 2016

4COAG targets and headline indicators

Figure 4.1Priority outcomes

Safe, healthy and supportive family environments with strong communities and cultural identity

Positive child development and prevention of violence, crime and self-harm

Improved wealth creation and economic sustainability for individuals, families and communities

Box 4.1COAG targets and headline indicators

COAG targets

Headline indicators

4.1 Life expectancy

4.2 Young child mortality

4.3 Early childhood education

4.4 Reading, writing and numeracy

4.5 Year 1 to 10 attendance

4.6 Year 12 attainment

4.7 Employment

4.8 Post-secondary education participation and attainment

4.9 Disability and chronic disease

4.10 Household and individual income

4.11 Substantiated child abuse and neglect

4.12 Family and community violence

4.13 Imprisonment and juvenile detention

The three priority outcomes that sit at the top of the reports framework (figure 4.1) reflect COAGs vision for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians to have the same life opportunities as other Australians. The priority outcomes are interlinked no single aspect of the priority outcomes can be achieved in isolation. Positive child development and prevention of violence, crime and self-harm are key determinants in the achievement of safe, healthy and supportive family environments with strong communities and cultural identity. Without these conditions in place, it is very difficult to achieve improved wealth creation and economic sustainability.

Progress against the COAG targets and headline indicators (box 4.1) reflects the extent to which this vision is becoming a reality. Like the priority outcomes themselves, these indicators are strongly inter-dependent. Few of the COAG targets or headline indicators are likely to improve solely as the result of a single policy or a single agency positive change will generally require action across a range of areas. In addition, most of these high level indicators are likely to take some time to improve, even if effective policies are implemented in the strategic areas for action.

The COAG targets and headline indicators are high level indicators:

life expectancy life expectancy is a broad indicator of the long-term health and wellbeing of a population

young child mortality young child mortality (particularly infant (