Closing the Gap in the NSW Department of Education

Closing the Gap is a national commitment that cascades to States and/or Territories to improve outcomes for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people while strengthening culture, identity and community wellbeing

In the NSW Department of Education, this work spans early childhood education, schools, training pathways, employment connections, Aboriginal Language revitalisation and partnerships with communities. Our focus is on long term change; strengthening the systems, relationships and practices that support children and young people throughout their learning journey.

This work aligns with key education priorities including the Aboriginal Education Policy, the Plan for NSW Public Education, the Connected Communities Strategy and the department’s partnership with the NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group Inc. (NSW AECG).

Together, these foundations support a system where Aboriginal children and young people can thrive in education while strengthening culture, identity and connection to community.

What Closing the Gap means in the NSW Department of Education

Closing the Gap in the NSW Department of Education is not a single program or initiative. It influences how we design policy, work with communities and deliver education across the whole system.

Our work focuses on improving outcomes by strengthening the conditions that support success from early childhood through school and into further education, skills and employment.

This includes:

• working in partnership with Aboriginal communities and the NSW AECG
• strengthening culturally responsive practice across early learning and schools
• supporting strong transitions at key stages of education
• strengthening Aboriginal Languages, culture and identity as part of learning
• using evidence and community insight to guide improvement

Learn more about how the NSW Department of Education is leading Closing the Gap in NSW

Working in partnership with Aboriginal communities

The department works in formal partnership with the NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group Inc. (NSW AECG) through the Partnership Agreement between the NSW Department of Education and the NSW AECG. The agreement recognises the NSW AECG as the peak community advisory body on Aboriginal education in NSW public education and establishes a framework for collaboration, consultation and shared decision making.

Through this partnership, the department and the NSW AECG work together to shape education priorities, policies and initiatives that affect Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children and young people.

The partnership operates at both the state and local level through the NSW AECG and Local AECGs, ensuring that community perspectives inform both system wide planning and local education practice.

Partnership in practice includes:

• shared decision making on strategic priorities and key initiatives
• engagement with Local AECGs to inform local education planning and school practice
• collaboration with Aboriginal organisations and community partners
• community input into the design, delivery and evaluation of policies and programs
• ongoing dialogue to ensure education services reflect community aspirations and priorities.

This partnership approach helps ensure that education policies and services are informed by Aboriginal community knowledge and experience and support sustainable, community informed change across the education system.

Strengthening education across the learning journey

Closing the Gap in education requires coordinated work across the full learning journey from early childhood through school and into further education, skills and employment.

Early childhood and development

The early years provide the foundation for lifelong learning and wellbeing. The department works with communities and providers to:

• support participation in quality early childhood education
• strengthen culturally responsive early learning services
• improve transitions from early childhood into school
• support families to engage confidently with education services

Programs, partnerships and resources

The department works with communities, partners and early childhood providers to strengthen participation, culturally responsive practice and positive transitions into school.

Participation and transitions

Supporting Aboriginal children and families to access quality early childhood education and transition successfully into school.

Key early childhood links
First Steps – the NSW Aboriginal Children’s Early Childhood Education Strategy
Strong and successful start to schools
Transition to Primary School Guidelines

Partnerships and community leadership

Working with Aboriginal organisations and communities to strengthen early childhood services and support community led approaches.

Gudjagang Gulgul Aboriginal Early Childhood Education and Care Committee
Supporting Aboriginal community-controlled organisations (ACCOs) delivering childhood education

Language, culture and learning

Embedding language, culture and identity within early childhood learning environments.

Ninganah No More
Early Childhood Aboriginal Cultural Safety Framework
Guidance for culturally responsive early learning services
Closing the Gap in Early Childhood Education and Care

Schools and learning

Schools play a central role in supporting engagement, achievement and belonging.

Across schools, the department focuses on:

• strengthening culturally responsive teaching and leadership
• improving attendance, engagement and retention
• supporting personalised learning pathways for students
• strengthening relationships between schools and local communities
• embedding culture, identity and community connection in learning environments

Key initiatives and resources
Personalised Learning Pathways Guidelines
Attendance strategies
Strong Strides Together: Meeting the educational goals for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students
Stronger Strides Together - Universal Resources Hub
Guiding Principles in Leading Aboriginal Education
Re-imagining Evaluation: A Culturally Responsive Evaluation Framework
Capability Framework: Teaching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander English as an Additional Language/Dialect Learners

Schools Leading the Way

Across NSW, schools are demonstrating what works in Closing the Gap. These examples show how targeted approaches are improving educational outcomes for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students.

Key resources:
Closing the Gap: case studies
Supporting Aboriginal Students to attain the HSC

Pathways, skills and employment

Education supports long term opportunities beyond formal schooling. The department works with partners across education, training and industry to:

• strengthen transitions from school to further education and training
• support pathways into employment and skills development
• work with training providers and partners to improve participation
• strengthen connections between education and economic opportunity

Key initiatives and resources
OCHRE Opportunity Hubs
School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships
Subsidised training for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Barranggirra - Skilling for Employment Initiative
Elsa Dixon Aboriginal Employment Grant

Languages, culture and identity

Language and culture are central to identity, belonging and engagement in education.

The department works with communities to support Aboriginal Language revitalisation and strengthen language learning pathways across early childhood and schools.

This includes:

• supporting community led language revitalisation
• strengthening Aboriginal language learning pathways in schools
• embedding culture and identity in learning environments
• supporting workforce development for language education

Key resources:
Aboriginal Language and Culture Nests
Aboriginal Languages K-10 Syllabus
Preschool Aboriginal Languages Program
Teacher support and guidance for Language learning
Aboriginal Language revitalisation in the NSW Department of Education

System reform and governance

Delivering Closing the Gap in education requires coordinated governance, partnership structures and system reform across the department and with external partners.

This includes:

• partnerships with Aboriginal organisations and peak bodies
• collaboration across government agencies on life-course outcomes
• system level planning and monitoring of progress
• governance groups that support coordination across early childhood, schooling and pathways

One of these groups is the Education and Economic Prosperity Sector Committee (EEPSeC), which supports coordination of reform across education and pathways into economic outcomes.

Learn more about education governance and partnerships for Closing the Gap

National Agreement on Closing the Gap

Closing the Gap is guided by the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, established between Australian governments and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peak organisations.

Priority Reforms

Five Priority Reforms guide how governments work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to improve outcomes.

These reforms shape how the NSW Department of Education plans, partners and delivers services.

• Priority Reform 1 – Formal partnerships and shared decision making
  Working in genuine partnership with Aboriginal communities and organisations.
• Priority Reform 2 – Building the community-controlled sector
  Strengthening Aboriginal organisations and services to lead and deliver programs.
• Priority Reform 3 – Transforming government organisations
  Improving systems, policies and practices so services work better for Aboriginal people.
• Priority Reform 4 – Shared access to data and information
  Improving how information is shared and used to guide decisions and track progress.
• Priority Reform 5 – Employment, economic participation and prosperity
  Supporting stronger pathways to skills, jobs and long-term economic opportunity.

National targets and education outcomes

The National Agreement includes socio-economic outcomes (SEOs) aligned to targets that measure progress over time. The NSW Department of Education contributes to the targets below:

Early Childhood and development

SEO target 3: Children are engaged in high quality, culturally appropriate early childhood education in their early years

• participation in early childhood education
• children thriving in their early years

School education

SEO target 5: Students achieve their full learning potential

• attendance, engagement and attainment

Post school pathways

SEO target 6: Students reach their full potential through further education pathways

SEO target 7: Youth are engaged in employment or education

• successful transitions into further education, training and employment

Culture and language strength

SEO target 16: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and languages are strong, supported and flourishing.

• strengthening Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages
• supporting identity, belonging and cultural connection through education

Further information:
Closing the Gap 2025–2028 Implementation Plan
Closing the Gap National Agreement Targets

Tracking progress and outcomes

The department monitors progress through national indicators, state data and ongoing evaluation.

The department tracks progress by:

• tracking progress against national socio-economic targets
• using state data to guide planning and improvement
• evaluating initiatives and system change over time
• working with communities and partners to understand lived experience
  

Further information:
Closing the Gap progress and reporting
Productivity Commission Dashboard – Information Repository

Our long-term vision

The department’s Closing the Gap work aims to support a future where:

• Aboriginal children thrive from early childhood through to further education and employment
• communities have strong influence in education decisions
• languages and cultures are visible and valued in learning environments
• students experience culturally responsive and inclusive education
• education supports long term opportunity and wellbeing

Related plans and resources:
NSW Closing the Gap Implementation Plan
Partnership Agreement with the NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group
National Agreement on Closing the Gap

Get involved

For enquiries about Closing the Gap in NSW Education, partnerships or engagement opportunities, please contact: ctg.education@det.nsw.edu.au.

Schools, community organisations and partners are encouraged to connect with the department to learn more about how Closing the Gap is being progressed across education in NSW.