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Long term strategies to improve the health and wellbeing of communities need to remain the central focus of government despite any changes in political power and political priorities.
The Closing the Gap national agreement between Australian governments (2008) has been heralded as the solution to resolve the health disparities between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-lndigenous Australians. The question what outcomes have been achieved to date, is the focus of this short report.
Initially six targets were identified in the 'National partnership agreement on closing the gap in Indigenous health outcomes' (Council of Australian Governments 2008). Annual reports produced by the federal government provide a veiled overview of progress that has been made. It is not however until all reports are reviewed and compared that the reader develops a picture of authentic outcomes (Australian Government 2010-2016).
Success has been demonstrated in increasing the numbers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander...