NSW Partnership

In March 2019, the Australian Government, the Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peak Organisations, state and territory governments, and the Australian Local Government Association signed a formal Partnership Agreement on Closing the Gap.

The agreement is based on the knowledge that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander self-determination over the design and delivery of services that affect them, is key to achieving better life outcomes.

As a signatory to this agreement, it marks a new way of doing business with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in NSW, with shared decision making at its core.

NSW Partnership

In March 2019, the Commonwealth Government, state and territory governments, the Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peak Organisations and the Australian Local Government Association made a formal Partnership Agreement on Closing the Gap.

This agreement represents a genuine partnership between Australian governments and the representatives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

We believe that when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a say in the design and delivery of services that affect them, better life outcomes will be achieved.

Working in partnership in NSW

The NSW Government is working in partnership with the NSW Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations (NSW CAPO) and other partners to achieve better outcomes for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This is a new way of working for the NSW Government – an opportunity we welcome, to learn from our partners and transform the way we work together.

NSW Government

Aboriginal Affairs NSW will lead and coordinate the work needed to meet the NSW Government’s commitments under the National Agreement. Aboriginal Affairs NSW will continue to work with Regional Alliances and Aboriginal communities on their priorities.

Please click here for more information on Aboriginal Affairs NSW.

NSW CAPO

The NSW Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations (NSW CAPO) represents the interests of Aboriginal Peoples of NSW. NSW CAPO is a member of the national Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peak Organisations and is made up of member organisations, including:

NSW Aboriginal Land Council

NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group

Link-Up (NSW)

Aboriginal Legal Services (NSW/ACT)

AbSec - NSW Child, Family and Community Peak Aboriginal Corporation

First Peoples Disability Network

Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of NSW

BlaQ Aboriginal Corporation

Young Aboriginal School Boy raising his hand

Shared decision making

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people must be able to make decisions about policies that affect their lives and communities.

The NSW Government and NSW CAPO, as representatives of Aboriginal communities, have agreed joint governance arrangements to develop, implement and monitor NSW’s plan to Closing the Gap. These joint governance arrangements make up the NSW Partnership for Closing the Gap.

NSW Joint Council

The NSW Joint Council (NSWJC) is the key decision-making group overseeing the planning and implementation of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap in NSW.

It is jointly chaired by:

the NSW Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, the Hon. David Harris
and the chair of NSW CAPO, Councillor Anne Dennis, NSWALC, and John Leha, AbSec.

Members include:

All NSW CAPO members
Secretary, NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet

The group is supported by:

Deputy Secretary, Aboriginal Affairs NSW Group Department of Premier and Cabinet
Executive Director, Closing the Gap and Voice, Aboriginal Affairs NSW Group Department of Premier and Cabinet
CEO of NSW Aboriginal Land Council.
The NSW Partnership Working Group, made up of NSW Government senior executives across all clusters, NSW CAPO members, and representatives from the National Indigenous Australians Agency, Local Government NSW, and the NSW Coalition of Aboriginal Regional Alliances.

The principles underpinning the NSWJC are: