Closing the Gap 2025: A Clear Call to Action for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Futures
The latest Closing the Gap Annual Data Compilation Report – July 2025 delivers a confronting assessment of Australia’s progress towards equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
While there are areas of improvement, the majority of national targets remain off track. For Indigenous Job Match Founder, Eddie Solien, this is more than a policy issue – it’s deeply personal.
“Every data point in this report isn’t just a statistic – it’s a lived reality for our people. It’s about our families, our communities, and our right to self-determination.” – Eddie Solien
Overall Progress
Of the 19 socio-economic targets in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap:
5 are on track
10 are not on track
4 have insufficient data to measure progress
This means that in critical areas – from life expectancy to incarceration rates – the nation is failing to meet its commitments.
Employment
Target 8 – closing the gap in employment by 2031 – is not on track.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment rates remain significantly lower than those of non-Indigenous Australians, with structural barriers including:
Discrimination in recruitment and promotion
Limited access to culturally safe workplaces
Gaps in training and skill alignment
“These numbers confirm what we see every day – too many of our mob are ready to work but can’t find pathways into workplaces that value and respect them. This is why Indigenous Job Match exists: to break down those barriers.” – Eddie Solien
Education
Mixed results were recorded in education:
Early childhood enrolment for 4-year-olds is on track.
Literacy and numeracy progress remains off track.
Year 12 or equivalent attainment is improving and on track.
Health and Wellbeing
Health outcomes remain a major challenge:
Life expectancy is off track with minimal improvement.
Child mortality is improving but not on track.
Healthy birthweight babies have shown steady gains.
Justice
Justice targets are among the most concerning:
Adult incarceration rates are off track and worsening.
Youth detention rates show little improvement.
“You can’t close the gap while locking up our people at these rates. We need investment in prevention, diversion, and community-led solutions – not just more cells.” – Eddie Solien
Housing
While overcrowding rates have slightly reduced, the housing target is not on track – especially in remote communities where infrastructure deficits are most severe.
What Needs to Change
The report reinforces that achieving the Closing the Gap targets requires:
Embedding Indigenous decision-making at all levels.
Investing in community-led programs with proven results.
Accountability at local and regional levels, not just national averages.
“The solutions are already here – in our communities, in our knowledge systems, and in our leadership. What we need is genuine partnership and sustained investment to scale what works.” – Eddie Solien
A Shared Responsibility
For governments, organisations, and individuals, the message is clear: equity will not be achieved by business as usual.
At Indigenous Job Match, we see the direct link between the report’s targets and the work we do every day – creating culturally safe employment pathways, supporting employers to improve, and amplifying Indigenous voices.
“Closing the Gap isn’t an abstract policy goal. It’s about ensuring my niece grows up with the same opportunities as any other child in this country – and we all have a role to play in making that real.” – Eddie Solien
References:
Image (above) source: Australian Government Productivity Commission – Closing the Gap Annual Data Compilation Report, July 2025
