Indigenous are working and earning more, but levels of self-harms within the community are rising significantly, according to a new Productivity Commission report.
The Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage report has shown that economic and health outcomes have improved, post-school qualifications have risen and child mortality rates have fallen.
But justice outcomes have worsened, self-harm has increased and the high rates of juvenile detention have stayed the same.
It’s been three years since such a detailed report into the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations was released.
The report showed the number of 20 to 24 year olds who have completed year 12 or above has increased from 45 per cent in 2008 to 59 per cent in 2012/13.
The number of adults working towards a post-school qualification is also up from 26 per cent in 2002 to 43 per cent in the same period.
The number of adults whose main income came from work rose from 32 per cent in 2002 to 41 per cent in 2012/13.
There's been a corresponding decrease in the number of those on income support and an increase in full time jobs and managerial positions.
One of those success stories is Noongar man Michael Hayden who has a civil mining contracting business and a tourism venture in Western Australia. He's also chairman of an Indigenous construction group.
He said his success was in part due to growing up in a stable family and a university education.
“Once you see Aboriginal people get the confidence and self-belief that they are part of the economy, you will see a difference in a lot of the social dysfunctions that we have,” he said.
“My belief is you get an education, you get a job, you get the belief, you start having the opportunities to buy houses, you have disposable income to choose what you can and can't do, then, as a people, Aboriginal people will start to change more so."
But the report reveals there is still much trauma within the Indigenous population. The number of adults hospitalised for self-harm rose 48 per cent from 2004/5 to 2012/13.
Those with high or very high levels of psychological distress increased from 27 per cent to 30 per cent over the same period.
Incarceration levels for adults rose 57 per cent between 2000 and 2013, while juvenile detention rates are about 24 times the rate for non-Indigenous youth.
FACTBOX: IMPROVEMENTS
Life expectancy gap narrowed from 11.4 to 10.6 years for men, 9.6 to 9.5 years for women
Mortality rates for children under one have halved over 15 years
Adult (20-64) post-school qualifications increased 17 per cent over 10 years
Adults employed full-time increased 12 per cent over 10 years
NO CHANGE
Students achieving national minimum standards for reading, writing, numeracy from 2008 to 2013
Family violence rates, alcohol and substance abuse rates
Disability and chronic disease rates
DIGRESSION
Levels of high psychological distress increased from 27 to 30 per cent since 2004 to 2012
Hospitalisation for self harm increased 48 per cent over same period
Adult imprisonment increased 57 per cent from 2000 to 2013
Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
