Priority Reforms

The National Agreement on Closing the Gap is built around four Priority Reforms to change the way governments work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, organisations, and people to accelerate improvements in Closing the Gap.

The Coalition of Peaks has been clear from the outset that governments need to do more to improve the lives of our people, but importantly, governments also need to do things differently than in the past. The Priority Reforms are based on what Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been saying for a long time is needed to improve the lives of our people. The National Agreement is in effect and will continue indefinitely.

The Priority Reforms arose from the partnership between Australian governments and the Coalition of Peaks. They respond to the voices and aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and were overwhelming supported during formal engagements in 2019. Each Priority Reform has its target and indicators.

The Priority Reforms also protect and support the strengthening of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures by:

• Ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander governance and decision-making structures are supported.

• Recognising community-controlled organisations are an act of self-determination where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people deliver services to their communities based on our own needs, cultures, and relationship to land.

• Confronting institutionalised racism in government mainstream institutions and agencies to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can access the services they need in a culturally safe way.

• Sharing data and information with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to ensure we have more power to determine our own development.