October 30, 2009
Embargoed: 11:30 AM (AEDT)
77/2009
Gains in Indigenous education and work but gaps remain: ABS
There have been gains in Indigenous education and employment over the six years
to 2008. As there were also gains for all Australians, gaps remain between outcomes
for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, according to the National Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey released today by the Australian Bureau of
Statistics (ABS).
Education
More young Indigenous people are completing Year 12 and further studies. In 2008,
over one-in-five (21%) Indigenous people aged 15–64 years had completed Year 12
(up from 18% in 2002), while 40% of those aged 25–64 years held a non-school
qualification (up from 32%).
Despite these improvements, educational attainment rates remain at around half
those for non-Indigenous people. In 2008, 54% of non-Indigenous people had
completed Year 12 and 61% had non-school qualifications.
Work
More Indigenous Australians were in employment in 2008, 54% of people aged 15-64
years, up from 48% in 2002. Correspondingly, the unemployment rate for Indigenous
people decreased from 23% to 17%, but this rate was over three times the rate for all
Australians in 2008.
Health
For adults (15+ years) smoking rates were lower in 2008 (47%), a decline from 51%
in 2002 while other health outcomes remained stable, with close to half (44%) of all
adults reporting ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’ health in 2002 and in 2008.
In 2008, over three quarters (77%) of children (aged 4-14 years) were also reported
as having ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’ health, with 74% of children physically active for
at least 60 minutes everyday. The survey also showed that over three quarters (76%)
of Indigenous infants (aged 0-3 years) had been breastfed.
Culture and language
More Indigenous adults identified with a clan, language or tribal group, 62% in 2008
up from 54% in 2002, while rates of speaking Indigenous languages have remained
steady, with around 11% mainly speaking an Indigenous language at home.
Results from the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey, 2008
(cat. no. 4714.0) are available for free download from the ABS website, including
state/territory comparisons for some indicators.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Interview requests and state summary tables
Corporate Communications 1300 175 070
When reporting ABS data, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or
ABS) must be attributed as the source
Selected characteristics of Indigenous and non-Indigenous persons
Adults
2002
2008
2002
2008
2002
2008
%
%
%
%
Education
Highest year of school completed is year Highest year of school completed is year 12 or equivalent (20-24 yrs)Has a nonHas a non-school qualification (25-64 yrs)
12
or equivalent
(
15
–
64
yrs
)
17.728.126.832.1
21.231.332.940.2
46.371.348.554.6
53.876.254.361.3
0.40.40.60.6
0.40.40.60.7
-
school qualification
(
15
–
64
yrs
)
Work(a)
Labour force participation rate (15-64 yrs)Employment to population ratio (15-64 yrs)Unemployment rate
62.648.223.0
64.553.816.6
74.669.9
76.572.7
0.80.73.6
0.80.73.3
(15-64 yrs)
6.3
5.0
Health
Self assessed heath status excellent/very good (15+ yrs)
Crude rateAge standardised rate(b)
44.137.1
43.737.9
51.851.7
56.156.6
0.90.7
0.80.7
Current smoker (15+ yrs)
Crude rateAge standardised rate(b)
50.948.1
46.845.1
22.822.7
19.820.1
2.22.1
2.42.2
Housing
Owners with and without mortgages (15+ yrs)(c)Overcrowding-requires one or more bedrooms (15+ yrs)Lives in dwelling with major structural problems (15+ yrs)
26.525.738.1
28.624.928.2
74.1
72.3
0.4
0.45.91.9
––
4.2
––
15.2
Language
Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander language main language at home (15+ yrs)Speaks an Indigenous language (15+ yrs)(d)
12.043.1
11.540.4
––
––
––
––
Children
Physically active for at least 60 minutes every day (4-14 yrs)Had ever been breastfed (0-3 yrs)Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander language main language at home (4-14 yrs)Speaks an Indigenous language (4-14 yrs)(d)Whether involved in cultural events, ceremonies or organisations (4-14 yrs)Spends time with an Indigenous leader or elder for at least one day each week (4-14 yrs)
––––––
74.175.5
––––––
––––––
––––––
––––––
8.3
34.572.631.1
a. For work Indicators, non-Indigenous comparisons in 2002 and 2008 relate to the total Australian population (including Indigenous persons).b. Proportions are age standardised to the Australian population as at 30 June 2001.c. For housing indicators, non-Indigenous comparisons in 2002 relate to the total Australian population (including Indigenous persons).d. Includes those who spoke 'only some' Indigenous words.e. An Indigenous to non-Indigenous rate ratio of 1.0 indicates parity, while rate ratios greater than 1.0 indicate relative Indigenous advantage/disadvantage, depending on the indicator. For positive indicators such as educational outcomes, a rate ratio of less than 1.0 indicates relative Indigenous disadvantage, whereas for negative indicators such as the unemployment rate, a rateratio greater than 1.0 indicates relative Indigenous disadvantage.
Source2007
:
For Indigenous persons
, .
2002
and
2008
NATSISS
;
for non
-
Indigenous
,
2002
and
2008
Survey of Education and Work
,
2002
–
03
and
2008
Survey of Income and Housing
,
2001
and
–
08
National Health Survey
Indigenous Persons
Non-Indigenous Persons
Rate ratio - (gap)(e)
NEWS 
