Renewed Joint Council: New Indigenous Affairs Ministers to meet with Coalition of Peaks to discuss how to advance Closing the Gap and improve life outcomes for our children and youth
Key issues to be addressed:
Calls from the community sector for expanded physical and mental health support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in places of detention or out-of-home-care, including transition.
Housing as a fundamental factor in improving health, education, and economic outcomes.
Strengthening the role of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led organisations in service delivery.
A call for all Governments to ensure sustainable funding for the commitments to Closing the Gap
Today some newly appointed federal, state, and territory Indigenous Affairs Ministers will join Coalition of Peaks members for an important Joint Council on Closing the Gap meeting in Boorloo Perth. With the wellbeing of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as a priority, this meeting is an opportunity to look for ways to protect and uplift our vulnerable children.
This is the first Joint Council meeting for the new Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, following her appointment in July 2024, and the first since recent elections in Queensland, the ACT, and the Northern Territory – sparking heightened national focus on the age of criminal responsibility despite strong opposition from experts, advocates and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations.
Pat Turner, Lead Convenor of the Coalition of Peaks, will advocate for preventative, community-driven approaches that have a positive impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children’s health and development, ensuring they have the same opportunities as all Australian children. She emphasises that addressing the physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people is crucial to breaking cycles of disadvantage.
"Every child should receive full health checks—including physical and mental health assessments—in places of out-of-home care or detention including transition points. Current systems are failing our children, and by addressing their health needs early, we can better equip them for positive futures," said Ms. Turner.
Ms. Turner will also highlight the critical role of housing in supporting long-term change. "Housing is not just a roof over one's head—it’s foundational to health, strong families, stable employment, and brighter futures. Housing reform should be a priority for Closing the Gap, given its link to improved health, educational attainment, and economic participation," she added.
This Joint Council meeting offers an important opportunity to align and collaborate with government partners to tackle these interconnected issues in genuine partnership.
"The National Agreement on Closing the Gap has already made important strides, especially through initiatives like the Housing Policy Partnership. But further action is needed, including sustained resourcing through all Governments quarantining funds to meet our dire housing needs and for Aboriginal community-controlled organisations, to achieve meaningful, long-term outcomes," Ms. Turner said.
New Ministers McCarthy, Orr, Edgington, and Simpson, along with existing Indigenous Affairs ministers, will work together with the Coalition of Peaks to explore collaborative solutions that respect cultural needs while fostering resilience and strength within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
PRESS BRIEFING DETAILS
Where: Duxton Hotel, 1 St Georges Tce, Perth
Date: Friday, 15 November 2024
Time: 9:15 AM (WST)
Who:
Indigenous Affairs Minister Malarndirri McCarthy
Coalition of Peaks Lead Convenor Patricia Turner
State and Territory Indigenous Affairs Ministers
Representatives from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations