Our Story
Who we are
The Coalition of Peaks is made up of more than 80 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled peak and member organisations across Australia, that represent some 800 organisations.
Coalition of Peaks Members have their own unique histories, needs and priorities, and share a commitment to legitimate community-controlled representation of our communities on matters that are important to our people.
We came together as an act of self-determination to work in partnership with Australian governments on Closing the Gap.
We share a commitment to community controlled representation of our communities.
Why we formed
The Coalition of Peaks came together to change the way Australian governments work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, organisations, and communities on Closing the Gap.
In 2008, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) made a commitment to work together to close the gap in Indigenous disadvantage. This led to the National Indigenous Reform Agreement (NIRA), which included the Closing the Gap strategy that outlined a range of targets to reduce inequality in life outcomes between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous Australians. The targets were to be achieved through funding for new programs and services, strengthened reporting requirements and government accountability arrangements which were to show whether progress was being made.
Though some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were involved in developing the policy and related programs, there was never full ownership by our people through their representatives and it was always considered to be an initiative of governments. Despite this, the NIRA and the initial Closing the Gap commitment was welcomed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership.
However, progress on achieving the Closing the Gap targets proved disappointing due to partial implementation, a lack of effort from governments to work together, a lack of ongoing funding and inadequate community involvement.
In 2016, COAG announced a "Refresh" of Closing the Gap and made a commitment to work in partnership with Indigenous communities in determining a new framework and targets, but soon it became clear that there was inadequate engagement and negotiations behind closed doors.
In response, 14 community-controlled peak organisations wrote to Prime Minister Morrision, Premiers and Chief Ministers to demand COAG not make any additional changes to Closing the Gap without formal input and support from Indigenous communities.
The 14 peak organisations also asked for those representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to be able to negotiate and reach agreement on a new Closing the Gap strategy, and to have an ongoing formal role in its implementation.
At first, we didn’t get a response. We wrote a second letter and, in frustration, went to the media. Finally, the Prime Minister met with us and agreed that we should have ownership and share in the decision-making on Closing the Gap. He took this back to COAG and got its agreement. This was the beginning of the Coalition of Peaks and the Partnership Agreement on Closing the Gap.
How we operate
The Coalition of Peaks
Consists of national, state and territory non-government Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peak bodies and independent statutory authorities that have responsibility for policies, programs and services related to Closing the Gap.
Has governing boards elected by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and/or organisations that are accountable to that membership.
Supports the vision for a genuine partnership between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and National Cabinet in developing and implementing efforts to close the gap.
The Coalition of Peaks is not incorporated; we have a formal Terms of Reference. We make decisions by consensus, agree positions jointly, and we determine our own representatives to talk to governments.
We have a Lead Convenor elected by us every two years, and come together fortnightly teleconference to review work, debate issues, and agree our positions to take to governments. We hold face-to-face meetings when we can to workshop larger policy issues and re-connect. We have a small Secretariat to support us all, currently hosted by the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation in Canberra.
We know there are other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations that are not members of the Coalition of Peaks. That is why the Coalition of Peaks is committed to talking to a broad range of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, regional governance bodies, representatives, and community members in each state and territory and nationally.
We also want governments to talk with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, regional governance bodies, representatives and community members in the implementation of local and regional Closing the Gap strategies and programs.
Our Timeline
-
![]()
October 2018
Fourteen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled peak organisations wrote to the Prime Minister, Premiers and Chief Ministers seeking a new Closing the Gap strategy be agreed through a formal partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled representatives. We were worried about the way governments were proposing to agree a new Closing the Gap strategy without Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s full involvement.
-
![]()
December 2018
Representatives of the fourteen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled peak organisations met with the Prime Minister seeking shared decision on Closing the Gap with Australian governments. The Prime Minister supported the proposal. The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed at their meeting on 12 December that the finalisation and implementation of the new Closing the Gap policy occurs through a genuine, formal partnership between COAG and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives.
Read the COAG communique here.
-
![]()
January – March 2019
The Coalition of Peaks formed, with an initial membership of nearly 40 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations. The Coalition of Peaks came from across the country to meet in person to develop what a formal partnership with governments on Closing the Gap might look like.
-
![]()
March 2019
A formal Partnership Agreement on Closing the Gap between the Coalition of Peaks and COAG came into effect setting out shared decision making on the design, implementation, monitoring and review of Closing the Gap strategy for the next ten years.
Read the Partnership Agreement on Closing the Gap here.
-
![]()
March 2019
An historic first Joint Council on Closing the Gap meeting was held in Brisbane under the new Partnership Agreement. The Joint Council’s membership includes a Minister from the Commonwealth and each State and Territory Government, a representative of Australian Local Government Association; and twelve representatives elected by the Coalition of Peaks.
Read the first Joint Council on Closing the Gap communique here.
-
![]()
August 2019
The second Joint Council on Closing the Gap meeting was held in Adelaide. The Joint Council agreed to develop a new National Agreement on Closing the Gap, to replace the governments National Indigenous Reform Agreement, and commit governments to new actions, targets and accountability arrangements over the next ten years.
The Coalition of Peaks proposed three Priority Reforms to accelerate improvements in the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to be the centre piece of the National Agreement. Governments agreed in principle and for the Priority Reforms to be tested through Coalition of Peaks led engagements with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Read the second Joint Council on Closing the Gap communique here.
-
![]()
September 2019 - December 2019
The Coalition of Peaks led community engagements on what should be included in the new National Agreement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the country and sought feedback on the Priority Reforms.
-
![]()
January 2020
A snapshot of the outcomes of the engagements was released and can be read here. A full report will be made public soon.
The Coalition of Peaks and governments commenced discussions on a new National Agreement on Closing the Gap, informed by the community engagements.
Prime Minister and other Commonwealth Ministers met with the Coalition of Peaks to hear the outcomes of the engagements. Based on the engagements, the Prime Minister agreed that the new National Agreement be built around the Priority Reforms. The Prime Minister also supported a fourth Priority Reform proposed through the engagements and committed funding for a new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander data project to develop regional profiles of Closing the Gap.
Read the Meeting Communique here.
-
![]()
February 2020
The Prime Minister released the 2020 Closing the Gap report and the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition made statements on Closing the Gap in Parliament. Both committed to the implementation of the Priority Reforms and acknowledged that formal partnerships between governments and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are foundational to Closing the Gap.
-
![]()
9 June 2020
The Partnership Working Group meets by video-conference and agrees the draft National Agreement for Joint Council’s consideration. This is the first step in the approval process of the National Agreement.
-
![]()
24 June 2020
The Coalition of Peaks release a ground-breaking report on the 2019 community engagements, led by the Coalition of Peak, on what should be included in the National Agreement. The report shows that there was overwhelming support for the four Priority Reforms to be included in the National Agreement as part of changing the way governments work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, organisations and communities to close the gap.
-
![]()
3 July 2020
Joint Council comes together by telepresence for its third meeting. Joint Council agrees to recommend the National Agreement to First Ministers, the Coalition of Peaks and the Australian Local Government Association for agreement and signing.
-
![]()
27 July 2020
The new National Agreement on Closing the Gap comes into effect signed by the Coalition of Peaks, the Prime Minister, Premiers, Chief Ministers, and the President of the Australian Local Government Association. It is the first time an intergovernmental National Agreement designed to improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people has been developed and negotiated between governments and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives.
To read the new National Agreement click here - CURRENT LINK BROKEN NEED DOCUMENT
-
![]()
17 November 2020
Joint Council convene for the first time since the National Agreement came into effect. The meeting focused on the implementation arrangements of the Agreement. New indicators to support reporting on the Priority Reforms were agreed. A revised Family Violence and a new Access to Information target was considered. The Joint Council also agreed to a strategic plan for funding the development of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled sector under Priority Reform Two and initial investment priorities were agreed for the housing and early childhood sectors. The Joint Council also considered the first annual Partnership Health Check.
The communique of the meeting is available here.
-
![]()
16 April 2021
The fifth meeting of the Joint Council was convened via videoconference.
The Joint Council considered the impact of COVID-19 on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and noted the success of the partnership arrangements between community controlled organisations and governments. The Joint Council agreed an amendment to the National Agreement with addition of an access to information target and the revised Family Violence Target. The Joint Council also agreed and released a Joint Communications Strategy.
The full communique is available here.
-
![]()
25 June 2021
The Prime Minister today hosted the second roundtable of senior Ministers and the Coalition of Peaks, a representative body made up of more than 50 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled peak organisations.
The Prime Minister noted the joint success of the Australian Government’s and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations led by NACCHO in supporting their communities through the COVID pandemic.
The full communique is available here.
-
![]()
6 August 2021
The Coalition of Peaks representatives virtually attended the sixth meeting of the Joint Council on Closing
the Gap today, the meeting focused on the parties Implementation Plans.
The full communique is available here.
