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OCHRE Stage Two Local Decision Making Evaluation Reports

OCHRE Local Decision Making Stage 2 Evaluation: NCARA–State Accord Evaluation Report

As the first multi-regional Accord in NSW, the NCARA–State Accord is an important milestone under Local Decision Making (LDM). It commits the NSW Government and the NSW Coalition of Aboriginal Regional Alliances (NCARA) to work together to restore Aboriginal peoples to prosperity by shifting decision-making about government services in NSW from the centre to the grassroots.

This report is an outcome evaluation that assesses whether the NCARA–State Accord is achieving its goals of transforming government and relationships through LDM to progress Aboriginal community aspirations.

The evaluation finds that LDM enables NCARA to elevate the voice of Aboriginal peoples in the regions to the state level to address issues around service delivery, Closing the Gap outcomes and Aboriginal affairs policy more broadly in NSW.

The report provides evidence of how supporting Aboriginal community self-determination around service delivery achieves positive outcomes with and for Aboriginal communities across NSW.

The Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research at the Australian National University is the independent evaluator. The evaluation was commissioned by Aboriginal Affairs NSW and co-designed with NCARA and key public sector officials involved in implementing the NCARA Accord. The report is owned by NCARA.

Find the report here.

OCHRE Local Decision Making Stage 2 Evaluation: Murdi Paaki Regional Assembly Evaluation Report

Murdi Paaki Regional Assembly (MPRA) has a long history of self-determination in the north-west and far western regions of NSW and was the first party to sign a Local Decision Making (LDM) Accord with the NSW Government. MPRA has now signed a second LDM Accord, which is the subject of this evaluation.

The evaluation finds that LDM assists MPRA to fulfill their own regional objectives and facilitate collaboration between the region’s diverse Aboriginal communities.

Through LDM, MPRA has enhanced its already strong leadership, including young leaders, and has achieved cutting-edge outcomes such as:

  •        increased local employment and social housing outcomes through MPRA’s Regional Aboriginal Housing Leadership Assembly
  •        designing, collecting and analysing their own data and producing their own research
  •        participating in government procurement processes to ensure that services better meet local needs

The evaluation also finds that the NSW Government could better harness the opportunities provided by LDM to improve service delivery and Closing the Gap outcomes, by proactively including MPRA as a valued partner in designing, implementing and reviewing service delivery outcomes.

The Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research at the Australian National University is the independent evaluator. The evaluation was commissioned by Aboriginal Affairs NSW and co-designed with MPRA and key public sector officials involved in implementing the MPRA Accord II. The report is owned by MPRA.

Find the report here.

OCHRE Local Decision Making Stage 2 Evaluation: Illawarra Wingecarribee Aboriginal Alliance Corporation Evaluation Report

This report presents the findings of an evaluation of the Illawarra Wingecarribee Alliance Aboriginal Corporation (IWAAC) Local Decision Making (LDM) Accord implementation.

LDM is part of the NSW Government’s ongoing commitment to transforming its relationship with Aboriginal peoples by sharing information and decision making around service design, delivery and evaluation.

IWAAC encompasses very diverse communities in the Illawarra and the Wingecarribee areas, with member organisations covering such elements of community life as elders, men’s group, health, and cultural food, education and well-being.

The evaluation finds that while LDM shows great promise, systemic barriers to successful implementation need to be addressed for it to reach its full potential, including:

  •        enabling flexible government processes
  •        supporting government cultural capability and a trauma-informed approach
  •        jointly developing a clear communications strategy to increase understanding of LDM among Aboriginal communities and government agencies
  •        promoting coordination across diverse government policies and Aboriginal groups to achieve shared goals

The Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research at the Australian National University is the independent evaluator. The evaluation was commissioned by Aboriginal Affairs NSW and co-designed with IWAAC and key public sector officials involved in implementing the IWAAC Accord. The report is owned by IWAAC.

Find the report here.

OCHRE Local Decision Making Stage 2 Evaluation: Three Rivers Regional Assembly Evaluation Report

This report presents the findings of an evaluation of the Three Rivers Regional Assembly (TRRA) Local Decision Making (LDM) Accord implementation.

LDM is part of the NSW Government’s ongoing commitment to transforming its relationship with Aboriginal peoples by sharing information and decision making around service design, delivery and evaluation.

The report finds that the Local Decision Making model has improved the working relationship between TRRA and the government, but more needs to be done to achieve genuine shared decision making.

With greater communication, resourcing and government cultural competence, government will be better able to trust Aboriginal voices when they identify needs and opportunities, rather than push-back.

TRRA Accord priority outcomes are relevant to a wide range of stakeholders and policy areas, and working proactively together will enable Local Decision Making to reach its full potential.

The Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research at the Australian National University is the independent evaluator. The evaluation was commissioned by Aboriginal Affairs NSW and co-designed with TRRA and key public sector officials involved in implementing the TRRA Accord. The report is owned by TRRA.

Find the report here.

Local Decision Making Accords Negotiation Evaluation Synthesis Report

Aboriginal Affairs NSW commissioned The Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research to evaluate the Accord negotiations in three Local Decision Making (LDM) sites. This report consolidates the findings and lessons learnt from the three evaluations of LDM Accord negotiations between the Riverina-Murray Regional Alliance, Murdi Paaki Regional Assembly, Barang Regional Alliance, and the NSW Government.

LDM aims to redefine the relationship between NSW Aboriginal communities and the NSW Government, based on partnerships, agreements, and accountability.  

View the report here

Riverina-Murray Regional Alliance

The Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research at the Australian National University has published the findings of the Local Decision Making Accord Negotiation Evaluation between The Riverina-Murray Regional Alliance and NSW Government.

This report increases our understanding of the Accord negotiation process, identifies the strengths of the process, the challenges encountered, strategies for addressing these challenges and opportunities for improvements. This report is published with the permission of The Riverina-Murray Regional Alliance.

View the report here

Murdi Paaki Regional Assembly

The Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research at the Australian National University has published the findings of the Local Decision Making Accord Negotiation Evaluation between The Murdi Paaki Regional Assembly and NSW Government.

This report increases our understanding of the Accord negotiation process, identifies the strengths of the process, the challenges encountered, strategies for addressing these challenges and opportunities for improvements. This report is published with the permission of The Murdi Paaki Regional Assembly.

View the report here

Barang Regional Alliance

The Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research at the Australian National University has published the findings of the Local Decision Making Accord Negotiation Evaluation between The Barang Regional Alliance and NSW Government.

This report increases our understanding of the Accord negotiation process, identifies the strengths of the process, the challenges encountered, strategies for addressing these challenges and opportunities for improvements. This report is published with the permission of The Barang Regional Alliance.

View the report here




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