National Agreement on Closing the Gap

First Nations peoples experience different health outcomes and influencing factors compared to other Queenslanders.

The National Agreement on Closing the Gap is an agreement between the Australian Government and First Nations representatives to achieve 19 socio-economic targets.

The health-specific targets are:

  • to close the gap in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander life expectancy within a generation (by 2031)
  • to increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander babies with a healthy birthweight to 91% by 2031
  • a significant and sustained reduction in suicide of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples towards zero.

How we're closing the gap

In Queensland, we're focussing on the areas where we can make the biggest impact. Evidence shows the following priorities offer the greatest potential for long-term health gains.

  • chronic disease mortality in the middle years (30–60 years)
  • early diagnosis and intervention to detect, treat and manage chronic conditions
  • addressing leading causes of infant and child mortality
  • a life course approach to prenatal and antenatal education from an early age
  • addressing education, housing and employment as health factors
  • management of mental illness to avoid hospitalisation
  • lifestyle risk factors – smoking, nutrition and physical activity
  • cultural factors impacting on health
  • immunisation targets.

Email FNHO_Corro@health.qld.gov.au for the full reports.

First Nations First Strategy

The First Nations First Strategy 2032 aligns with Queensland Health policies. It prioritises innovative models of care and new technologies to improve efficiency and health outcomes for First Nations peoples.

The strategy looks at 4 focus areas of reform:

  • eliminate racism through education to identify, measure and report experiences of racism and actions taken to address it
  • re-shape the health system to prioritise local, data informed and community-led care models
  • transform care to deliver community-based, holistic, sustainable and culturally safe solutions
  • strengthen the First Nations workforce to support flexible care across service boundaries.

Making tracks towards closing the gap framework

The Making Tracks Policy and Accountability Framework (PDF 8849 kB) sets out the approach to achieving sustainable health gains for First Nations Queenslanders. It focuses on:

  • a healthy and safe start to life through maternal and child health services
  • reducing risk factors that contribute to chronic disease
  • improving living conditions through environmental health and housing initiatives and efforts to improve community and personal safety
  • earlier diagnosis and appropriate treatment targeting common diseases
  • improving access to a culturally appropriate health service by supporting the health workforce and encouraging services to work together
  • working with community-controlled services to improve coordination and inform the design and delivery of funded programs and services
  • improving the quality and availability of research and data, accountability mechanisms and evaluation.

Previous investment strategies

Last updated: 14 May 2026