Steering Committee for the
Review of Government
Service Provision

Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage: Key Indicators 

Request for comment 
March 2006

Introduction
During 2006, the Review of Government Service Provision, which represents all State and Territory Governments and the Australian Government, will be consulting with Indigenous people, government agencies and researchers. The Review is seeking comments on the report, Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage: Key Indicators 2005.
In May 2002 the Council of Australian Government (COAG) requested a regular report against key indicators of Indigenous disadvantage. Two editions of Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage: Key Indicators have now been released — the first in November 2003, and the second in July 2005. Since 2002, consultations have taken place in all states and territories. Consultations are continuing in 2006 and comments and suggestions received will feed into the next Report due to come out in 2007. The Productivity Commission is the Secretariat for this project. 
Consultation aims
The aims of consultations are: 
•	to identify potential changes to the indicator framework
•	to seek better ways of reporting within the framework
•	to identify data, case studies and insights for inclusion in the 2007 Report.
While there has been considerable support for the Report from all sectors, Indigenous and non‑Indigenous alike, various issues have been raised about the indicators in the framework and the way some aspects of Indigenous disadvantage are presented. Undertakings were given during previous consultations to revisit the framework and some of those issues after the release of the 2005 Report.
In considering suggestions for change, the Review will seek, as much as possible, to remain consistent with the broad structure of the framework, as endorsed previously by COAG, and, therefore, build on that framework. Furthermore, the Review believes that it is important to be able to trace changes over time, which requires some consistency in key indicators.
Key questions for consultation
The Report’s framework has been reproduced on the following pages. We want to know what you think about the framework and how you think it is working. In thinking about the framework and report it would be useful to refer to the Overview from the 2005 Report.
The main Report and Overview can be found on the Review website at: http://www.pc.gov.au/gsp. If you do not have access to the Internet, please contact the Secretariat on (03) 9653 2100 or email gsp@pc.gov.au

Key questions to consider	
•	Are all the indicators meaningful and appropriate? Can you suggest any improvements?
•	Are there alternative indicators that would more clearly reflect outcomes for Indigenous people?
•	Can you suggest better ways of reporting against the indicators, including better sources of data? 
•	Do you know of any good case studies or examples of successful programs, activities or policies that could be included in the next report?
•	How can the report’s presentation be improved to make it more user friendly?	
	
	As well as these broad questions, we are also seeking feedback on specific issues and indicators, particularly, those relating to culture and health. A separate questionnaire sets out these issues in a series of questions. You may wish to provide verbal feedback on the issues raised in the questionnaire if you are attending a consultation meeting or provide written feedback at a later date. 
There will almost certainly be other issues that will come up during this round of consultations. We would be happy to receive your feedback on any aspect of the Report.
Comments and responses can be forwarded by 21 June 2006 to:

	Secretariat
	Review of Government Service Provision
	Locked Bag 2 Collins Street East
	MELBOURNE VIC 8003
	Phone: 03 9653 2100		Fax: 03 9653 2359		Email: gsp@pc.gov.au 

Multi-level indicator framework: priority outcomes	

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

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

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

Indigenous people and governments have agreed the following outcomes. These outcomes are closely linked to each other —progress in one area can assist progress in the others
Multi-level indicator framework: headline indicators
The headline indicators measure progress in achieving the priority outcomes. They are a small set of high level indicators, which usually take some time to respond to changes in government policies.
•	Life expectancy
•	Rates of disability and/or core activity restriction
•	Years 10 and 12 retention and attainment
•	Post secondary education – participation and attainment
	•	Labour force participation and unemployment
•	Household and individual income
•	Home ownership
•	Suicide and self-harm
	•	Substantiated child protection notifications
•	Deaths from homicide and hospitalisations for assault
•	Victim rates for crime
•	Imprisonment and juvenile detention rates

Multi-level indicator framework: strategic areas for action
Governments have agreed to focus policy attention on the following seven strategic areas. Over time progress in these areas is expected to lead to improvement in the headline indicators and priority outcomes. Progress is measured by a series of strategic change indicators, which can be influenced by government policies and programs in the short to medium term.

Early child development and growth 
(prenatal to age 3)		Early school engagement and performance 
(preschool to year 3)		Positive childhood and transition to adulthood		Substance use and misuse		Functional and resilient families and communities		Effective environmental health systems		Economic participation and development	
													
•	Rates of hospital admission for infectious diseases
•	Infant mortality
•	Birthweight
•	Hearing impediments		•	Preschool and school attendance
•	Year 3 literacy and numeracy
•	Primary school children with dental caries		•	Years 5 and 7 literacy and numeracy
•	Retention at year 9
•	Indigenous cultural studies in school curriculum and involvement of Indigenous people in development and delivery of Indigenous studies
•	Juvenile diversions as a proportion of all juvenile offenders
•	Transition from school to work		•	Alcohol and tobacco consumption
•	Alcohol related crime and hospital statistics
•	Drug and other substance use		•	Children on care and protection orders
•	Repeat offending
•	Access to the nearest health professional
•	Proportion of Indigenous people with access to their traditional lands
•	Participation in organised sport, arts or community group activities
		•	Rates of diseases associated with poor environmental health (including water and food borne diseases, trachoma, tuberculosis and rheumatic heart disease)
•	Overcrowding in housing
•	Access to clean water and functional sewerage		•	Employment (full-time/part-time) by sector (public/private), industry and occupation
•	CDEP participation
•	Long term unemployment
•	Self employment
•	Indigenous owned or controlled land
•	Accredited training in leadership, finance or management
•	Case studies in governance arrangements