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T3 HASS SEMESTER EXAM

30/08/2025

Year 10 HASS Semester 2 Exam Cheatsheet (6.3, 6.4 and 6.7)

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Skip the summaries and go to Part 2: Revision Booklet?

Part 1: Summaries

Unit 6.3: Measuring and Mapping Human Wellbeing

Core Concept: What is Human Wellbeing?

Human wellbeing is a comprehensive measure of a person’s quality of life. It’s not just about money; it’s about health, education, safety, happiness, and having choices. It is measured using various indicators to compare the quality of life across different regions and populations.

Key Indicators of Wellbeing

  • Lack of Sanitation:

    • Description: Refers to the absence of facilities for the safe disposal of human waste (faeces and urine).
    • Impact on Wellbeing: Poor sanitation leads to the spread of infectious diseases like cholera, typhoid, and dysentery. It contaminates water supplies and causes malnutrition. It also reduces school attendance, especially for girls, which lowers literacy rates.
    • Example: In some slums in Bangladesh, simple latrines are situated directly over lakes, contaminating the water source.

  • Wealth:

    • Description: The value of assets owned. It provides access to life’s necessities and opportunities.
    • Measurement: A common measure is Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita (a country’s total economic output divided by its population).
    • Key Concepts:
      • Absolute Wealth: Wealth compared to a fixed standard (e.g., being above the poverty line).
      • Relative Wealth: Wealth compared to others in your community.
      • Cost of Living: The amount of money needed for basic necessities. A high income doesn’t always mean a high standard of living if the cost of living is also high.
    • Example: Switzerland has a high average income (US$85,500), but it is also one of the most expensive countries to live in, showing that high income doesn’t automatically equal better wellbeing.

  • Infant Mortality Rate (IMR):

    • Description: The number of children who die under one year of age for every 1000 live births.
    • Impact on Wellbeing: A low IMR indicates good healthcare, nutrition, and maternal education.
    • Example: In developed countries like Japan, the IMR is very low (2 deaths per 1000). In contrast, Afghanistan’s IMR is extremely high (110 deaths per 1000) due to a lack of medical facilities, especially in rural areas.

  • Total Fertility Rate (TFR):

    • Description: The average number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime.
    • Impact on Wellbeing: High TFR is often linked to lower wellbeing (less education for women, high IMR). Low TFR is common in developed nations with more career opportunities for women and better healthcare.
    • Example: In 2018, Niger’s TFR was 6.49, while Australia’s was 1.77.

  • Adult Literacy Rate (ALR):

    • Description: The proportion of the adult population (over 15) who can read and write.
    • Impact on Wellbeing: Literacy improves employability, earning potential, and the ability to access and understand health information (health literacy).
    • Example: While Australia’s ALR is 99%, a 2018 survey showed 14% of Australians found it difficult to navigate the healthcare system, demonstrating a gap in health literacy.

  • Health and Disease:

    • Description: The ability of a population to treat and control diseases. Preventable diseases often occur in poorer regions.
    • Impact on Wellbeing: Good health is fundamental to wellbeing.
    • Example: Malaria, spread by mosquitoes, is a life-threatening disease. In 2017, 93% of malaria-related deaths occurred in sub-Saharan Africa, showing a link between disease impact and economic development.

  • Life Expectancy:

    • Description: The average number of years a person is expected to live.
    • Impact on Wellbeing: It is a strong summary indicator of overall wellbeing. High life expectancy is linked to good sanitation, healthcare, food security, and education.
    • Example: In 2019, life expectancy in France was 82.9 years, while in Nigeria it was only 54.5 years.

  • Happiness:

    • Description: A subjective measure of wellbeing, often considered one of the most important but difficult to quantify.
    • Measurement: The UN World Happiness Report uses criteria like GDP per capita, social support, life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and perceptions of corruption.
    • Example: In 1972, Bhutan prioritized Gross National Happiness over GDP, focusing on environmental conservation, good governance, and culture to improve wellbeing.

Unit 6.4: Reasons for Spatial Variations in Wellbeing

Core Concepts: Spatial Analysis

  • Spatial Distribution: How phenomena (like wealth or literacy) are arranged on the Earth’s surface. Geographers analyze this using the PQE method:
    • P (Pattern): Give a general overview (e.g., uneven distribution, clusters in certain regions).
    • Q (Quantification): Use statistics, percentages, or numbers to support the pattern.
    • E (Exception): Identify places that don’t fit the general pattern.
  • Spatial Association: The degree to which the spatial distributions of two different phenomena are similar. A strong spatial association exists if areas high in one indicator are also high in another (e.g., high GDP and high life expectancy).

Causes of Global Variations (The SHEEPT Framework)

Variations in wellbeing are caused by a combination of interconnected factors, classified as :

  • S (Social): Factors relating to people, culture, religion, population structure, and education. (e.g., social views on family planning affecting TFR).
  • H (Historical): Past events or actions that influence the present (e.g., colonization, past policies like China’s One Child Policy).
  • E (Economic): Factors relating to money, trade, and industry (e.g., a country’s wealth from natural resources like Saudi Arabia’s oil).
  • E (Environmental): Factors relating to the natural and human environment (e.g., climate affecting disease prevalence like malaria, access to natural resources).
  • P (Political): Factors relating to governments and their decisions (e.g., political instability vs. stable governance like Costa Rica, which has no army and invests heavily in education and health).
  • T (Technological): The influence and use of technology (e.g., modern medicine reducing IMR).

Key Impacts of Global Variations

  • Levels of Development:

    • Developed Country: High GDP per capita (>US$12,000), industrialized, high standard of living, stable population (e.g., Australia, Germany).
    • Developing Country: Low GDP per capita, low industrialization, lower standard of living, rapidly growing population (e.g., Niger, Vietnam).

  • Inequality:

    • Description: Economic inequality refers to the uneven distribution of wealth within a population.
    • Example: In 2018, the world’s 26 richest people owned the same amount of wealth as the poorest 3.8 billion people (half the world’s population).

  • Population Structures:

    • Ageing Population: A high proportion of older people (65+), typical of developed countries with low TFR and high life expectancy. Challenge: Fewer workers to support a large dependent elderly population (e.g., Germany).
    • Growing Population: A high proportion of young people, typical of developing countries with high TFR and low life expectancy. Challenge: Can create high youth unemployment and strain on resources if not managed. Opportunity: Can provide a demographic dividend (a large working-age population to boost the economy) (e.g., Niger).
    • Replacement Rate: The TFR of 2.1 needed to keep a population stable (excluding migration).

  • Migration:

    • Description: The movement of people from one place to another, often driven by large variations in wellbeing.
    • Key Terms:
      • Emigrant: A person leaving their country.
      • Refugee: A person fleeing their country due to fear of persecution.
      • Asylum Seeker: A person who enters another country to apply for protection as a refugee.
      • Remittances: Money sent by migrants back to their home country.
    • Example: People from Central American countries like Guatemala flee violence and economic hardship to seek asylum in the United States.

Unit 6.7: Managing Variations in Human Wellbeing

Types of Organisations

  • Government Organisation: Run by the national government to provide services to its citizens (e.g., Australia’s ‘Closing the Gap’ initiative).
  • Intergovernmental Organisation (IGO): An organisation made up of multiple governments working together on international issues (e.g., The United Nations).
  • Non-Government Organisation (NGO): A non-profit, voluntary group that works to improve wellbeing, often focusing on specific issues. They are funded by donations, grants, and memberships. (e.g., Oxfam, Australian Red Cross, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation).

Measuring Effectiveness

The effectiveness of an initiative is measured by monitoring data to see if specific targets have been met. It answers the question: “Has wellbeing actually improved?”

Key Management Initiatives (Case Studies)

  • Global Scale: UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development:

    • What it is: An agenda adopted by all 193 UN members in 2015 to achieve 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. These goals aim to reduce poverty and improve wellbeing while protecting the environment.
    • Examples of SDGs: No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Quality Education, Clean Water and Sanitation.
    • Main Obstacle: Funding. Achieving the goals is estimated to cost US$2-3 trillion per year, which is considered unrealistic.

  • International Scale: The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation:

    • What it is: A major NGO founded by Bill Gates that aims to improve healthcare and reduce poverty in the world’s poorest regions.
    • Sanitation Goal: The “Reinvent the Toilet Challenge.” The aim is to develop a toilet that can safely process human waste without being connected to a sewer, water, or electricity grid, recovering useful resources like clean water and energy affordably.

  • National/Local Scale: ‘Closing the Gap’ (Australia):

    • What it is: A strategy by the Australian Government to achieve equality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in health, education, and employment by 2030.
    • Targets: Examples include closing the gap in life expectancy by 2031, halving the gap in child mortality by 2018, and halving the gap in Year 12 attainment by 2020.
    • Effectiveness: As of 2018, only half the targets were on track. The gap in life expectancy was actually widening, not closing.

  • National Scale: Improving Literacy in India:

    • The Problem: India has 37% of the world’s illiterate population. In 2011, the literacy rate was 74%, but this is uneven across the country and between genders.
    • Government Initiative: The Right to Education Act (2009) mandates free and compulsory education for children aged 6-14.
    • NGO Initiative: Planet Read uses Same Language Subtitles (SLS) on popular Bollywood movies to act as an entertaining reading tool for hundreds of millions of viewers.

Part 2: Revision Booklet — Full Answers

Here are the complete answers to every question in your revision booklet, all answers are from the textbook.

Unit 6.3 Questions

1. Define human wellbeing. Human wellbeing refers to a person’s overall quality of life. It is a holistic concept that goes beyond just wealth and includes multiple dimensions such as physical and mental health, access to education, personal safety, social connections, political voice, and happiness. It encompasses a sense of dignity and the ability to make choices to live a fulfilling life.

2. Briefly explain the following indicators of wellbeing:

  • Lack of sanitation: This indicator measures the proportion of a population without access to safe and hygienic facilities for disposing of human waste. Poor sanitation directly harms wellbeing by causing the spread of infectious diseases like cholera and diarrhoea, which can lead to malnutrition and death, especially in children. It also indirectly affects wellbeing by reducing school attendance for girls, which in turn lowers literacy rates and future opportunities.

  • Wealth: Wealth is an indicator that provides access to essential necessities like food, housing, and healthcare, as well as opportunities for education and leisure. It is commonly measured by GDP per capita. Variations in wealth, both absolute (compared to a fixed standard) and relative (compared to others), significantly impact a person’s standard of living and overall wellbeing.

  • Infant Mortality Rate (IMR): This is the number of deaths of infants under one year of age per 1000 live births. It is a critical indicator of a nation’s health system, nutrition, and maternal education. High IMRs, often found in developing countries like Afghanistan, are caused by factors like premature birth, infections, and a lack of medical facilities.

  • Total Fertility Rate (TFR): This is the average number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime. High TFRs are often seen in countries with high infant mortality and limited access to education and family planning for women. Globally, the TFR has fallen as healthcare improves and more career opportunities become available for women.

  • Adult Literacy Rate (ALR): This measures the percentage of adults (aged 15+) who can read and write. It is a vital indicator as literacy improves a person’s employability, income potential, and health literacy (the ability to understand health information). There are often significant variations in ALR between regions and between males and females.

  • Health and Disease: This indicator reflects a population’s ability to treat and control the spread of diseases. Many preventable diseases, like malaria, are concentrated in poorer, less developed regions, indicating a strong link between a country’s economic development and its population’s health outcomes. Access to physicians is another key measure within this indicator.

  • Life Expectancy: This is the average age a person is expected to live. It is a powerful summary of a country’s overall wellbeing, as high life expectancy is correlated with universal access to sanitation, healthcare, food security, and education. There are significant variations between countries (e.g., France vs. Nigeria) and between males and females.

  • Happiness: This is a subjective but crucial indicator of wellbeing. It is measured using criteria such as social support, freedom, generosity, GDP per capita, and perceptions of corruption. While linked to other indicators, it is complex; for example, Bhutan prioritizes Gross National Happiness over GDP.

3. Analyze the trend in the following illustration [Sanitation Graph] and explain why there are such differences in access to basic sanitation in various parts of the world. Analysis of Trend: The bar graph shows a strong positive correlation between a country’s income level and its population’s access to sanitation. High-income countries and regions like North America and Europe have very high percentages of safely managed sanitation (87% and 78% respectively) and almost no open defecation. As income levels decrease, access to safely managed sanitation plummets, and riskier practices like unimproved sanitation and open defecation increase dramatically. Sub-Saharan Africa and low-income countries show the worst access, with only 21% and 18% having safely managed sanitation and a high prevalence of open defecation (31% and 37% respectively). Explanation for Differences: The primary reason for these vast differences is wealth. Wealth provides the resources needed to build, maintain, and access life’s necessities, including critical infrastructure like sanitation systems. Developed, high-income countries can afford to invest in extensive sewer systems and water treatment plants that provide safely managed sanitation for their entire population. In contrast, developing and low-income countries lack the economic capacity for such large-scale infrastructure projects. This economic constraint leads to a reliance on cheaper but less safe options like pit latrines, or in the worst cases, no facilities at all, resulting in open defecation.

4. Based on the following illustration [Living Wage Cartoon], explain how wealth creates big differences in levels of wellbeing. The cartoon starkly illustrates how wealth creates significant differences in wellbeing by highlighting the concept of relative wealth and economic inequality. On one hand, you have a wealthy businessman complaining that a living wage of £7.45 is an “excess” that businesses “can’t afford,” revealing his detachment from the financial realities of low-wage workers. On the other hand, his companion simultaneously orders another bottle of expensive vintage wine (‘67) without a second thought, demonstrating his own immense personal wealth and extravagant spending habits. This contrast shows that what one group considers an unaffordable “excess” for workers’ basic wellbeing, another group sees as trivial personal expenditure. Wealth creates a bubble where the rich can enjoy a high standard of living and luxury while remaining disconnected from, and often hindering, the efforts of the poor to achieve a basic, dignified level of wellbeing.

5. Why is it difficult to accurately measure an entire population’s literacy skills? It is difficult to accurately measure a population’s literacy skills because a simple “can read and write” metric doesn’t capture the full picture. Many people may possess basic reading skills but lack a high enough level of literacy to meaningfully improve their wellbeing. A crucial aspect is health literacy—the ability to access, understand, and use health information. A person might be considered “literate” but still be unable to understand a doctor’s instructions or navigate a complex healthcare system. This demonstrates that functional literacy, which is harder to measure on a mass scale, is far more important for wellbeing than the basic definition.

6. Explain why ALR in Australia was 99% in 2018, yet 14% of Australians found it difficult to navigate the health care system. This discrepancy exists because the Adult Literacy Rate (ALR) is a broad measure of basic reading and writing ability, whereas navigating a healthcare system requires a more specific and advanced skill known as health literacy. While 99% of Australians can read and write, health literacy involves understanding complex medical terminology, interpreting information about services and treatments, and making informed health decisions. The 14% of Australians who struggled likely had lower levels of health literacy, which is a common issue even in highly educated populations, especially among the elderly, minorities, and low-income earners. This highlights that a high general literacy rate does not automatically translate to high functional literacy in specialized areas crucial for wellbeing.

7. Find the trends in this graph of the Happiest Countries in the world and explain why these nations appear to be happier than others. Trend: The graph shows that the happiest countries in the world are predominantly wealthy, developed nations clustered in Northern Europe (Nordic countries), such as Finland, Iceland, Denmark, and Norway. There is a very narrow range of scores among the top-ranking nations, suggesting they share similar characteristics. Explanation: These nations appear happier because they score highly on the key criteria used by the World Happiness Report. These criteria are strong indicators of high wellbeing and include: high GDP per capita (wealth), strong social support (community and family networks), high life expectancy (good health), a high sense of personal freedom to make life choices, a culture of generosity, and low perceptions of corruption in government and business. Their political and economic systems are stable and provide a strong social safety net, which fosters a secure and positive environment for citizens.

Unit 6.4 Questions

1. How does wellbeing change over time? Provide an example to support your answer. Wellbeing changes over time, often improving as a result of technological advancements, economic development, and political decisions. A clear example is the global trend of the Total Fertility Rate (TFR). In the 1950s and 1960s, the global TFR was high, around 5 children per woman. By 2018, it had fallen to 2.42. This change was driven by factors like better healthcare reducing infant mortality (so parents need fewer children to ensure some survive), greater access to family planning, and more career and education opportunities for women. A specific country example is China, which implemented its One Child Policy in 1979 to slow population growth. This political decision caused a dramatic drop in its TFR, from 6-7 in the 1950s to 2-3 by 1980.

2. What are the causes of Global variations in wellbeing? Provide examples to support answers. Global variations in wellbeing are caused by a complex mix of interconnected factors, which can be categorized using the SHEEPT acronym :

  • Social: Cultural values and population structure affect wellbeing. For example, social norms about the role of women can influence TFR and female literacy rates.
  • Historical: Past events shape the present. For example, China’s One Child Policy (a historical political decision) drastically reduced its TFR and altered its population structure.
  • Economic: A country’s wealth is a primary driver. For example, Saudi Arabia’s immense oil reserves have made it the wealthiest economy in the Middle East, affording its citizens a higher level of wellbeing than its neighbours.
  • Environmental: The natural environment influences wellbeing. For example, countries in the tropics are more susceptible to diseases like malaria, which negatively impacts health outcomes.
  • Political: Government decisions are crucial. For example, Costa Rica has no army and instead invests its funds into education and healthcare, resulting in high literacy and low IMR, making it the happiest country in its region despite political instability in neighbouring countries.
  • Technological: Access to technology differentiates wellbeing. For example, a lack of modern medical facilities in rural Afghanistan contributes to its extremely high infant mortality rate.

3. How does the level of development of a place influence its wellbeing? The level of development of a place profoundly influences its wellbeing.

  • Developed countries, defined by high GDP per capita (e.g., above US$40,000), industrialization, and strong economies, generally have high levels of wellbeing. Their citizens enjoy a high standard of living, universal access to quality medical care and technology, high literacy rates, and long life expectancies.
  • Developing countries, defined by low GDP per capita and low industrialization, generally have lower levels of wellbeing. Their populations often face widespread poverty, poor living conditions, high unemployment, limited access to sanitation and education, and low life expectancy. They also tend to have rapidly growing populations, which can further strain resources. Essentially, being born in a developed country is a significant determinant of whether a person will have access to the basic services and opportunities needed for a long, healthy, and prosperous life.

4. What is inequality and how is it linked to wellbeing? Inequality refers to the uneven distribution of resources, opportunities, and wealth within a population, known as economic inequality. It is intrinsically linked to wellbeing because it creates vast disparities in the quality of life among people living in the same country or across the globe. For example, in 2018, the richest 1% of the global population owned 45% of the world’s wealth. This extreme concentration of wealth means that a small minority enjoys an exceptionally high level of wellbeing, with access to the best healthcare, education, and opportunities, while billions in the poorer half of the world struggle for basic necessities like clean water, food, and shelter. Inequality is therefore both a cause and a consequence of poor wellbeing.

5. Define ‘ageing population’ and ‘growing population’. For each situation, explain how it might affect the wellbeing within a country.

  • An ageing population is one where the proportion of people aged 65 or older is growing. This typically occurs in developed countries with low TFR and high life expectancy.
    • Effect on Wellbeing: While it can indicate a prosperous lifestyle with low unemployment, it poses a major economic challenge. There is a shrinking workforce to support a large, dependent elderly population that requires pensions (social security) and extensive medical care. This can strain public finances. Example: Germany’s population pyramid is top-heavy, indicating an ageing population.
  • A growing population is one with a high proportion of young people, typically seen in developing countries with high TFR and low life expectancy.
    • Effect on Wellbeing: If managed well, it can provide a demographic dividend—a large working-age population that drives economic growth. However, if not managed, it can lead to high youth unemployment, political unrest, a lack of universal education, and food insecurity, which severely harms wellbeing. Example: Niger has the highest population growth rate in the world and a very young population.

6. Describe how variations in global wellbeing lead to migration. Large variations in global wellbeing are a major driver of international migration. People from countries with low levels of wellbeing—characterized by poverty, lack of employment, political instability, conflict, and poor access to healthcare and education—are often compelled to leave their homes. They become emigrants seeking a better life and greater opportunities in countries with higher levels of wellbeing. In extreme cases, people flee for their lives from violence or persecution, becoming refugees or asylum seekers. For example, the economic hardship and violence in countries like Venezuela and Guatemala lead many to migrate towards the United States in search of safety and economic stability.

7. Discuss one positive and one negative impact of migration.

  • Positive Impact: A major positive impact is the sending of remittances. Migrants working in wealthier countries often send a portion of their earnings back to their families in their home country. These remittances provide a vital source of income that can significantly boost the economy of the developing country and improve the wellbeing of the families receiving the money.
  • Negative Impact: A negative impact on the host country can be a rise in social tensions or a strain on the local economy. If a large number of migrants are employed, the unemployment rate for nationals (citizens of the host country) can rise. Furthermore, if workers send most of their earnings home as remittances, that money is not being spent in the local economy, which can negatively affect local businesses.

Unit 6.7 Questions

1. Define the following terms: Government organisation, Intergovernmental organisation and Non-government Organisations?

  • Government Organisation: An organisation established and run by a national government to create policies and provide services for its citizens. Example: The Australian Government running the ‘Closing the Gap’ strategy.
  • Intergovernmental Organisation (IGO): An organisation composed of multiple member governments that work together to address international issues. Example: The United Nations (UN), which brings together 193 countries to work on goals like the SDGs.
  • Non-Government Organisation (NGO): A non-profit, voluntary citizens’ group that operates independently of government to address social or political issues. They are typically funded by donations and grants. Example: The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Oxfam, or the Australian Red Cross.

2. How do you measure the effectiveness of a management initiative? The effectiveness of a management initiative is measured by collecting and analyzing data to monitor progress against specific, pre-defined targets. This process determines whether the initiative’s goals have been met and if wellbeing has genuinely improved. If the data shows the targets are being achieved (e.g., IMR is decreasing, literacy is increasing), the initiative is considered effective. If the targets are not being met, the initiative is ineffective.

3. Explain what the Global Scale: 2030 agenda for sustainable development is? Provide examples of the sustainable development goals they are trying to implement. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a global plan of action adopted by all 193 United Nations member states in 2015. Its central aim is to guide global development and improve human wellbeing by achieving 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the year 2030. The agenda is built on the principle of sustainability, which means “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. Examples of SDGs:

  • Goal 1: No Poverty (End poverty in all its forms everywhere).
  • Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being (Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages).
  • Goal 4: Quality Education (Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education).
  • Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation (Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all).

4. Identify the main obstacle to achieving success for the Sustainable development goals? The main obstacle to achieving success for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is funding. Achieving all 17 goals is estimated to require an enormous investment of US$2–3 trillion each year over the 15-year period. This level of financial commitment is considered unrealistic for many UN member countries, especially developing nations that lack the economic capacity to fund such ambitious projects. Without major changes to funding structures, it is unlikely that many countries will meet their targets by 2030.

5. Summarise the sanitation goal that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is trying to reach. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s sanitation goal is to solve the sanitation crisis in developing countries through technological innovation. This initiative, called the “Reinvent the Toilet Challenge,” aims to create a new type of toilet that is not dependent on traditional infrastructure. The goal is to develop a toilet that can:

  1. Operate “off the grid” without a connection to a water supply, sewer system, or electricity.
  2. Safely remove germs and pathogens from human waste.
  3. Recover valuable resources from the waste, such as clean water, energy, and nutrients.
  4. Remain affordable for people in poor communities. Essentially, they are trying to invent a self-contained, safe, and sustainable sanitation solution for the billions who lack it.

6. Provide some statistics that summarise the literacy problem facing India’s population.

  • About 37% of the world’s total illiterate population lives in India.
  • At the time of the 2011 census, India’s combined literacy rate was 74.04%, meaning over a quarter of its 1.3 billion people could not read or write.
  • There is a significant gender gap: the male literacy rate was 82.14%, while the female literacy rate was only 65.46%.
  • Even though literacy has improved from just 18% in 1951, around 400 million people have only very basic literacy skills, which is insufficient to escape poverty.

7. Summarize the Government initiative: ‘Closing the Gap’ and identify the targets they intend to achieve? ‘Closing the Gap’ is a national strategy established by the Australian Government to reduce inequality and achieve equality in wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples compared to non-Indigenous Australians by the year 2030. It is monitored annually to track progress. Targets they intend to achieve include:

  • Close the gap in life expectancy by 2031.
  • Halve the gap in child mortality by 2018.
  • Ensure 95% of Indigenous four-year-olds are enrolled in early childhood education by 2025.
  • Halve the gap in reading, writing, and numeracy by 2018.
  • Halve the gap in Year 12 attainment by 2020.
  • Halve the gap in employment by 2018.