This review is the first time Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have led a national assessment of how the National Agreement on Closing the Gap is working on the ground. It puts their perspectives, experiences and solutions front and centre.

The review engaged widely with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the country, through surveys, submissions, community forums, and direct conversations and a clear message emerged: governments are not living up to their commitments. There’s a significant gap between what was committed to in the Agreement and what communities are experiencing.

The review is a call to action. It makes clear, that for Closing the Gap to succeed, governments must share power, invest in communities, and follow through on their promises. 

The review sets out 12 key findings and 17 recommendations.

Key findings

• The National Agreement is sound – but not being implemented as intended.
• The partnership is unbalanced.
• Communication with communities is failing.
• The funding system needs reform.
• Racism remains a fundamental barrier.
• Closing the Gap must be above politics.