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females, the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous life expectancy hasnarrowed from 20 to 15 years (Wilson, Condon and Barnes 2007).Median age at death and age specific death ratesMedian age at death is another way of looking at Indigenous mortality, however,differences in coverage rates by age can lead to biased summary results. Forexample, higher coverage of infant deaths than deaths in older age groups may leadto underestimates of median age at death. The Indigenous population has a youngerage structure than the non-Indigenous population, which also influences median ageat death values (ABS 2006), therefore, estimates should be treated with caution.Figure 3.1.2 Median age at death, 2005100Indigenous malesIndigenous femalesNon-Indigenous malesNon-Indigenous femalesAge in years806040200NSW Qld WA SA NTa Victoria, Tasmania and the ACT are excluded due to poor coverage rates or small numbers. b Care shouldbe exercised when comparing median age at death of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people because ofdifferential rates of Indigenous identification by age and different age structures in the two populations.Source: ABS (2006) Deaths Australia 2005; table 3A.1.2.• In 2005, median ages at death in all states and territories for which data wereavailable were significantly lower for Indigenous males and females than non-Indigenous males and females (figure 3.1.2).• Median ages at death for Indigenous people fluctuated between 2000 and 2005but no overall trend was apparent (table 3A.1.2).3.6 OVERCOMINGINDIGENOUSDISADVANTAGE 2007