Closing the Gap
The National Agreement on Closing the Gap aims to enable First Nations people and governments to work together to overcome inequality and achieve life outcomes equal to all Australians.
The objective of the ‘National Agreement on Closing the Gap’ is to enable First Nations people and governments to work together to overcome inequality and achieve life outcomes equal to all Australians. 12
The National Agreement has 19 targets across education, employment, health and wellbeing, justice, safety, housing, land and waters, and languages. One of the key targets is 'everyone enjoys long and healthy lives' with the target to Close the Gap in life expectancy by 2031. 13
Role of sport
The eighth report in the Australian Governments ‘Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage’ series (December 2020) provides a high-level view of the wellbeing of First Nations people. Section 5.7 highlights some of the key data, outcomes, and areas for future research relating to sport participation. 14
- Participation in sport and recreational activities has beneficial effects on individuals and contributes to community cohesion. About two in three First Nations people aged 3 years or over participated in sporting and physical recreation activities (in 2014-15).
- Playing in, or training for, organised sport was more common for Australian children overall than for First Nations children, and this pattern is observed across all remoteness areas other than major cities.
- More research was recommended to identify and address gaps in facilitators for, and barriers to, improving participation by First Nations people in community activities, and to help build effective strategies into program design.
While not always highlighted, sport is identified in Closing the Gap progress reports, opens in a new tab in 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2013, 2012, 2011, and 2010. Each report highlights case studies and the ongoing investment that Australian governments have made in sport through different programs to help achieve outcomes such as: 15
- Improving wellbeing and resilience
- Increasing educational attendance and attainment
- Engaging youth
- Developing or upgrading infrastructure facilities
- Helping to provide employment and training opportunities
