Australia is making steady but uneven progress in improving education outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, according to the latest report from the National Indigenous Australians Agency. The 2025 Closing the Gap Annual Report and 2026 Implementation Plan highlights encouraging gains in early childhood participation and Year 12 completion, but it also makes clear that key national targets remain off track.
Participation in the year before full-time schooling continues to rise, reinforcing the importance of early learning as a foundation for lifelong education. However, many First Nations children are still starting school developmentally behind their peers, highlighting ongoing gaps in school readiness that can affect long-term outcomes.
At the secondary level, the report indicated more students are completing Year 12 or equivalent qualifications, reflecting gradual improvement in retention. Despite this progress, the pace of change is not sufficient to meet national targets, particularly in regional and remote communities where barriers to engagement remain significant.
The report also draws attention to challenges beyond the classroom. Many young people are not yet fully engaged in education, training, or employment, underscoring the need for stronger support and smoother transitions from school to further study or work. Educational outcomes are closely linked to broader factors such as housing, health, and community wellbeing.
A key focus of the report is the importance of culturally responsive, community-led approaches to education. Strengthening partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and ensuring education systems reflect local culture and context are critical to driving long-term improvement.
Catholic education is actively committed to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students with enrolments growing 53 per cent over the past decade.
The National Catholic Education Commission’s (NCEC) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander network advises on the development, implementation and evaluation of national strategies, programs and policies impacting on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education.
Additionally, the NCEC continues to advocate for greater access and funding for Indigenous boarding particularly in remote communities, and access to programs that support students’ learning and wellbeing. Through these efforts, Catholic education aims to enable students to fully participate in schooling and achieve high-quality learning outcomes.
While there are signs of progress, the report underscores that substantial work remains to close the education gap for all First Nations students.
Key Education Targets & Progress (As of July 2025):
- Early Childhood Education (Target 3) – ON TRACK: The goal is 95% enrollment for Indigenous children in the year before full-time school by 2025. As of 2024, 94.2% were enrolled, marking significant progress from 2016.
- Developmental Milestones (Target 4) – NOT ON TRACK: The goal is 55% of children developmentally on track by 2031. Progress is currently worsening.
- Year 12 Attainment (Target 5) – NOT ON TRACK: The goal is 96% for 20-24 year olds by 2031. While improving, the 68.1% rate in 2021 was not on track.
- Tertiary Education (Target 6) – NOT ON TRACK: The goal is 70% of 25-34 year olds with a qualification by 2031. The 47% rate as of 2021 is not on track.
- Youth Engagement (Target 7) – NOT ON TRACK: The goal is 67% of 15-24 year olds in work or study by 2031. The 58% rate as of 2021 is not on
