The Coalition of Peaks acknowledge and pay respect to Elders, both past and present and all generations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples now and into the future as the Traditional Owners of this land.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website may contain images, voices or names of people who may have passed away.
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 across the country to accelerate improvements in Closing the Gap. The Coalition of Peaks have been clear from the outset that governments need to do more to improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander 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 has been finalised, signed, and is in effect. We have developed resources and materials that will help you talk to government officials in your communities about how to make the Priority Reforms work for you. They are available here.
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 and they are available here.
The Priority Reforms also protect and support the strengthening of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures through:
Developing and strengthening structures so that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people share in decision making with governments on Closing the Gap.
Outcome – Shared decision-making: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are empowered to share decision-making authority with governments to accelerate policy and place-based progress on Closing the Gap through formal partnership arrangements.
Building formal Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled service sectors to deliver Closing the Gap services.
Outcome – Building the community-controlled sector: There is a strong and sustainable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled sector delivering high quality services to meet the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the country.
Ensuring mainstream government agencies and institutions that deliver services and programs to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people undertake systemic and structural transformation to contribute to Closing the Gap.
Outcome – Improving mainstream institutions: Governments, their organisations and their institutions are accountable for Closing the Gap and are culturally safe and responsive to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including through the services they fund.
Shared Access to locally-relevant data and Information
Outcome – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have access to, and the capability to use, locally-relevant data and information to set and monitor the implementation of efforts to close the gap, their priorities and drive their own development.