What the Latest Health Data Tells Us About Closing the Gap

What the Latest Health Data Tells Us About Closing the Gap

That’s the key message from the latest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework Summary Report, released last week. It tracks how Australia is measuring up across a wide range of health indicators—from life expectancy and chronic disease to housing and health workforce participation. And while some trends are moving in the right direction, the pace and consistency of change remain deeply uneven.

The data shows some cause for optimism. Smoking rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have continued to fall, especially among younger adults. The proportion of First Nations people aged 15 and over who smoke daily fell from 45% in 2008 to 37% in 2018–19. Immunisation rates for five-year-olds are now on par with, or even slightly higher than, those for non-Indigenous children. And there has been a steady increase in the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people working in health roles, particularly as nurses or midwives—a critical part of building culturally safe services.

But the broader picture is still one of persistent inequity. Life expectancy continues to lag behind that of non-Indigenous Australians by eight to nine years. Rates of chronic disease—including diabetes, heart disease and kidney disease—remain high, and in some cases are increasing. Access to timely, culturally appropriate primary care is still a barrier in many communities, especially in remote areas. And despite growing recognition of the importance of social determinants, overcrowded housing and financial insecurity remain widespread.

These are not new challenges—but the latest data shows how stubbornly they persist. It’s a reminder that while commitments to “closing the gap” are now embedded in policy language, they don’t always translate to lived experience or consistent outcomes on the ground.

Importantly, the report doesn’t just highlight what’s missing—it also helps identify what’s working. Community-controlled health organisations, targeted prevention programs, and Indigenous-led workforce strategies are showing results. The challenge now is scaling those successes, sustaining investment, and embedding genuine partnerships across the health system.

Better data is part of that process. The Health Performance Framework was developed with input from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders and continues to evolve as a tool for accountability. It gives policymakers, service providers and communities a clearer view of what’s shifting, what’s stalling, and where action is most needed.

Because closing the gap isn’t about checking off metrics. It’s about delivering the right care, in the right way, for the right reasons—and making sure that progress isn’t just promised, but actually delivered.