Closing the Gap: A call for Indigenous-led solutions and redefining success
On another Closing the Gap Day we are once again confronted with the same disappointing reality – only four of 19 Closing the Gap (CTG) targets, some originally pledged in 2007, are on track. Despite repeated commitments from governments and institutions, the results remain stagnant.
This forces us to ask: Is Closing the Gap really the best way forward, or do we need a fundamental shift in how we approach Indigenous success and wellbeing?
Too often, the blame is placed on Indigenous peoples themselves. This is deficit thinking — an outdated, colonial perspective that assumes Indigenous peoples are inherently ill-suited to modern life.
It’s an offensive and racist notion that ignores the resilience of Indigenous cultures that have thrived for millennia. Indeed, the very premise suggests Indigenous peoples are incapable of adapting or succeeding on their own terms, an assumption that disregards the complexity and richness of Indigenous knowledge systems, governance structures, and ways of life.
We have continuously adapted to changing environments, demonstrated extraordinary resilience in the face of colonisation, and maintained cultural continuity despite systemic attempts to erase our identities. To suggest otherwise is to ignore the reality of Indigenous strength and ingenuity.
Some argue the issue is purely systemic – that Indigenous peoples simply need more opportunities or increased government funding. However, this perspective is also flawed.
It perpetuates another form of deficit thinking that assumes Indigenous peoples are dependent on external support rather than capable of driving their own success.
While adequate resources and equitable access to services are essential, the narrative that Indigenous advancement hinges solely on government intervention is misleading.
It fails to acknowledge the historical and ongoing systemic barriers that have excluded Indigenous peoples from opportunities, rather than a lack of effort or aspiration on their part.
All this feeds further into the offensive stereotyping. Indigenous people are cast as unmotivated or ungrateful for existing programs. But the reality is that many government-led initiatives are designed without genuine consultation or partnership with Indigenous communities, leading to solutions that do not align with Indigenous values, needs, or aspirations.
When programs fail, the blame is often placed on Indigenous peoples rather than on the ineffective policies and systems that failed to incorporate Indigenous perspectives from the outset.
The flaws in how success is defined
The CTG framework measures Indigenous achievement against non-Indigenous Australians, using non-Indigenous standards of success. This is a fundamental flaw.
CTG does not seek to set targets based on Indigenous perspectives of success, nor does it prioritise Indigenous aspirations, cultural values, or ways of knowing.
The very concept of “closing the gap” implies that Indigenous peoples must “catch up” to a predefined standard, rather than recognising that Indigenous success may look different from Western metrics of economic prosperity or educational attainment.
At Monash, we’re committed to creating opportunities for Indigenous peoples to reach new heights and make major contributions to their communities.
Through programs that centre Indigenous leadership and connection to Country, we see the real markers of success – ones that cannot be measured solely by mainstream, Western standards.
One such example is the Indigenous Congress, a platform for Indigenous leaders to come together, share knowledge, and advocate for Indigenous-led policy reform.
This congress strengthens self-determination by ensuring Indigenous voices are central to discussions about Indigenous futures.
By fostering leadership and providing a space for Indigenous decision-making, the congress exemplifies what success looks like on Indigenous terms.
Indigenous peoples have been advocating for generations that success must be redefined. Instead of closing a gap defined by outsiders, we should be focusing on Indigenous-led initiatives that prioritise self-determination, cultural strength, and community leadership.
Indigenous knowledge and governance structures have sustained communities for thousands of years, and it is these frameworks that should inform how progress is measured.
Today marks #NationalClosetheGapDay - Urgent action is needed to address worsening Closing the Gap targets.
— Our Health in Our Hands ❤️💛🖤 (@NACCHOAustralia) March 19, 2025
Read our recent media releases on Closing the Gap here: https://t.co/4b6MIfQaJbhttps://t.co/ejKIPLBzMW#NationalCTGDay2025 #ClosingtheGap #ClosetheGap pic.twitter.com/pzf9YwAcor
Health, education, employment, and wellbeing must be assessed through an Indigenous lens – one that values connection to Country, community engagement, and cultural identity as fundamental components of success.
True progress will only come when Indigenous leadership is at the forefront of decision-making.
We call on the government, institutions, and the nation as a whole to start with Indigenous leadership. This means more than tokenistic representation – it requires real investment in Indigenous-led solutions, policies designed in true partnership with Indigenous communities, and a willingness to listen and act upon Indigenous knowledge.
At Monash, we know we are doing our part in building the future of Indigenous leadership – one that will guide us towards Indigenous-defined strength, resilience, and prosperity.
It’s time for the nation to follow suit and recognise that Indigenous success is not about closing a gap, but about supporting and empowering Indigenous-led futures.
This article was co-authored with Tathra Lowe, a Peek Whurrong woman from the Maar Nation of South Western Victoria, and the Indigenous Student Recruitment Officer with the William Cooper Institute.
