Closing the Gap

National Close the Gap Day - 21 March 2024

The Closing the Gap process, originally established in 2008, was significantly redeveloped in 2020. This new process is underpinned by a commitment to establish a genuine partnership between governments and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The refresh sets clear targets to overcome the entrenched inequality faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the areas of:

Health,
Justice,
Education,
Safety and wellbeing,
Culture and language, and
Economic participation.

For over 50 years, Monash University has contributed towards Indigenous advancement, and since the appointment of our inaugural Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous) in 2018, and the establishment of the William Cooper Institute in 2019, Monash is more committed than ever to play a significant role in reducing the disparities in education between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

In particular, Monash aims to contribute towards increasing the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 25-34 years who have completed a tertiary qualification (Certificate III and above) to 70 per cent.

We hope to have impact by creating meaningful and well-supported opportunities and pathways into higher education. These include expanding the course suite within the Monash Indigenous Entry Scheme (degree programs with reduced ATAR requirements for Indigenous applicants), and seeing more students commence their degrees via the Monash Indigenous Access Program (MIAP) each year. Through the establishment of these initiatives and programs, Monash has seen a steady increase in Indigenous graduates each year, particularly from the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.

In addition to educational outcomes, Monash is also proud to contribute towards restoring, preserving and celebrating Indigenous languages, via the Monash Indigenous Studies Centre, and increasing employment opportunities for Indigenous peoples, through the establishment of a new Indigenous employment policy.