Relatively low rates of employment contribute to the poor economic and social outcomes experienced by many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Increasing economic opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people contributes to their improved health, education, and home ownership. This has a flow-on effect of promoting greater independence and improving life outcomes.

In 2007, the Commonwealth, states and territories agreed to a reform program to close the gap in various aspects of Indigenous disadvantage. Two targets in this national agreement are:

• halving the gap for Indigenous people aged 20–24 in Year 12 attainment or equivalent attainment rates by 2020
• halving the gap in employment outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians within a decade (by 2018).

This audit assessed whether Queensland is reducing the gap in education and employment outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. During the audit, we assessed the support provided by state school to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in the senior phase of schooling (Years 10, 11 and 12) to attain Year 12 certification. We also assessed how well the Queensland Government supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to transition from schooling into work, training, or further education.