Who We Are

The Coalition of Peaks came together to change the way Australian governments work with our people. As community-controlled organisations, we work for and are accountable to our communities, not governments. We share a belief that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should have a meaningful say on policies and programs that impact on us through formal partnerships with Australian governments at all levels.

Never before have community-controlled peak organisations and their members come together in this way – to develop and negotiate policies that impact on our people with Australian governments. We provide legitimate community-controlled representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander interests in Closing the Gap.

The Coalition of Peaks:

• Consists of national, state and territory non-government Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peak bodies and certain 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 the National Federation Reform Council in developing and implementing efforts to close the gap

The Coalition of Peaks are 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 convener elected by us and come together regularly on 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, hosted by the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation.

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.