Reconciliation has no meaning if it is not aimed at achieving equality in life expectancy, education, employment and all the important, measurable areas of disadvantage.

We cannot think of Australia as reconciled when some continue to experience racism and when there continues to be such profound disparity between First Nations people and the wider community.

Reconciliation is about creating equity and equality, closing this gap and building relationships to do this.

The most recent data tells us the following:

THERE ARE MORE THAN

548,000

FIRST

AUSTRALIANS

Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians experience vast differences in health, education, employment, and standards of living compared to their non-Indigenous counterparts. Understanding these inequalities is the first step to reconciling the differences between us.

And greater than

30,000

First Australians

IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Indigenous vs non-indigenous

Males

LIFE

Expectancy

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have a significantly lower life expectancy, up to 11.5 years for men and 9.7 years for women.

Indigenous vs non-indigenous

Females

21

INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS

Median

AGE

The overall Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is quite young due in part to a higher birth rate and lower life expectancy.

38

NON-INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS

INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS

Infant

Mortality

The infant mortality rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is 8 / 1000 live births, double the rate for non-Aboriginal Australians.

NON-INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS

Causes of DEATH

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians are much more likely to die from disease, assault and suicide. Diabetes, a disease which generally has a low mortality rate, kills 6.4 times more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people than the national average for non-Indigenous people.

INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS

Mortality Rate / 2

Aboriginal Vs Non Aboriginal Mortality Rates

NON-INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS

Mortality Rate / 2

Heart Disease

Mortality rate
163.4 vs 87.2

Diabetes

Mortality rate
97.9 vs 15.3

Respiratory Diseases

Mortality rate
76.3 vs 25.7

Lung Cancer

Mortality rate
68.9 vs 32.5

Liver Disease

Mortality rate
29.3 vs 6.1

Suicide

Mortality rate
25.7 vs 9.6

Assault

Mortality rate
6.7 vs 0.7

22%

CompleteYear 12

17%

Unemployment(3.4x Higher)

26%

Of housing has major structural problems

Indigenous Society

An overview of a small sample of the difficulties and disadvantages faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in society.

11%

Are bulliedat school

19%

Speak anAboriginalLanguage

25%

Live inovercrowdedhousing

Our Relationship

As a population, we’re optimistic for the future. Studies have shown that we’re more likely to agree that the relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians is improving.

66%

Believe that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture is important to Australia.

80%

Of Australians are open to learning more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.

72%

Believe that Indigenous Australians need help to overcome disadvantage.

80%

Think the Apology was an important milestone in our relationship.

87%

Feel that our relationship is important to Australia as a whole.

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