Support is available for those affected by the NSW floods. Resources and information can be found at the NSW Flood Assistance and Resources page.

Completed Research & Evaluation

Understanding the scale, severity and causes of food insecurity amongst Aboriginal communities in NSW: A pilot study of food insecurity prevalence and severity.

The Sax Institute (Sax) were commissioned by Aboriginal Affairs NSW to complete this research examining the severity of food insecurity experienced by Aboriginal communities in NSW. This report complements the literature review found below, that Sax brokered the University of Sydney to complete, which explores the root causes of Aboriginal food insecurity in NSW.

For this research project, Sax administered the internationally recognised 18-point United States Department of Agriculture Household Food Security Survey Module in one urban, one regional, and one remote location in NSW. Sax partnered with the Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation (Tharawal) in Airds, Riverina Medical and Dental Aboriginal Corporation (RivMed) in Wagga Wagga, and Bourke Aboriginal Corporation Health Service (BACHS) and Maranguka Community Hub in Bourke. The survey was adapted to be contextually and culturally relevant to the participating communities. It was administered by trusted local Aboriginal researcher officers working at the partner organisations.

155 respondents were surveyed: 55 in Tharawal, 50 in Wagga Wagga, and 50 in Bourke. Although the results cannot be considered representative of each community, the survey data reveals very high levels of food insecurity experienced by respondents in the three locations. The statistics contained within this report debunk the idea that food insecurity is primarily a problem for communities in remote locations as the severity of food insecurity experienced by respondents in the urban and regional locations were also very high.

Respondents were asked topical questions about the impact of Covid-19 on their experience of food (in)security. Sax also provides a series of guidances.

Sax’s final report can be found here.

For more information about what AANSW is doing to address food insecurity, see the AANSW Food Equity page.  

Report cover: Understanding the scale, severity and causes of food insecurity amongst Aboriginal communities in NSW

The Aboriginal Media Ecology in NSW: Developing Strategies for Change

Aboriginal media organisations play a critical role in encouraging celebration and thriving of Aboriginal people and communities through their strengths-based messaging, promotion of Aboriginal languages, and localised communications developed with and for community. This report builds on earlier completed research into the state of the Aboriginal media sector across NSW to address an information shortfall around Aboriginal audience media engagement, the value-adding role of Aboriginal media organisations, and how government can strengthen the sector. The report outlines practical steps forward for how government can connect and listen directly to Aboriginal media organisations and professionals to enable empowering Aboriginal-led messaging tailored to diverse Aboriginal audience needs and contexts. Key findings include the need for:

  • a ‘dedicated, reliable and stable’ funding model that promotes convergence and digital inclusion
  • building on successful organisations through a ‘hub and spoke’ model and direct government contracting of Aboriginal media experts to strengthen the Aboriginal media sector
  • developing a national strategy to collect Aboriginal digital inclusion data

The study was undertaken in partnership with the Centre for Advancement of Indigenous Knowledges, University of Technology Sydney who co-designed this research with First Nations Media Australia.

Click here to view the report.






Alternatively, view the webinar presented by Dr Archie Thomas & Prof Shane Hearn here

Closing the Gap and the Aboriginal media ecology in New South Wales

This paper provides a historical overview of Aboriginal media and communications policy developments and Aboriginal community-controlled media organisations from the 1930s to today. It discusses the significance of the 2020 National Agreement on Closing the Gap for strengthening and supporting Aboriginal community-controlled media, and improving government communications with Aboriginal people, with a specific focus on NSW.
Click here to view the report.

Closing the Gap and the Aboriginal media ecology in NSW cover image

Preliminary Findings of the OCHRE Local Decision Making Evaluation Stage 2

OCHRE (Opportunity, Choice, Healing, Responsibility, Empowerment) is the NSW Government’s community focused plan for Aboriginal Affairs.

Local Decision Making (LDM) is a flagship initiative of OCHRE. LDM supports self-determination and progressive devolution of decision making around service delivery to Aboriginal Regional Alliances across NSW.

In order to assess how well LDM is meeting its goals, the NSW Government is funding an independent ten-year OCHRE Evaluation, co-designed with participating Aboriginal communities.

This report presents the preliminary findings from the second stage of the OCHRE Evaluation.

Case studies showcase how LDM is achieving innovative cross-cluster, place-based solutions to entrenched issues. Through its bottom-up, Aboriginal-led regional governance structures, community voices are reaching government agencies and achieving remarkable outcomes.

However, government needs to do more to harness the full potential of LDM including strengthening leadership for LDM across government, properly resourcing Aboriginal leadership, and changing government processes to enable agile, holistic and tailored responses to complex issues.

The Australian National University Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research is conducting this evaluation in partnership with the following LDM governance bodies:

  • NSW Coalition of Aboriginal Regional Alliances
  • Barang Regional Alliance
  • Illawarra-Wingacarribee Aboriginal Alliance Corporation
  • Murdi Paaki Regional Assembly
  • Riverina Murray Regional Alliance
  • Three Rivers Regional Assembly

View the report here.

Evidence for improving food security in Aboriginal communities in NSW

The issue of food security has been a longstanding one for Aboriginal peoples in NSW. It became spotlighted in recent years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, various natural disasters, and cost of living pressures.

This Evidence Check rapid review is part of a larger research project undertaken by the Sax Institute, as commissioned by AANSW, to understand the root causes, severity, and distribution of food (in)security as experienced by Aboriginal peoples in NSW. The Evidence Check was undertaken by The University of Sydney and brokered by the Sax Institute.

This review team comprised three Aboriginal and four non-Aboriginal reviewers with expertise in nutrition, dietetics, public health, and Aboriginal health research. The team’s approach allowed for the situated knowledges of each Aboriginal reviewer to be reflected, and for a decolonised lens to be applied to the research. This ensured Aboriginal voices and cultural knowledge systems were appropriately integrated into the analysis, interpretation, and presentation of this report.

The following three questions are addressed in this paper’s rapid review of academic and grey literature:

Question 1: What factors contribute to food insecurity for Aboriginal peoples in NSW?

Question 2: What is known about the scale and distribution of food insecurity for Aboriginal peoples in NSW?

Question 3: What policies and programs have been effective in improving food security for First Nations people, nationally and internationally?

This research forms part of the evidence base for AANSW, food security stakeholders, and Aboriginal communities to strengthen food security amongst Aboriginal communities in NSW.

AANSW will publish further research by the Sax Institute that addresses some of the gaps identified in the Evidence Check.

Download the Evidence Check rapid review here. 


 Accountability Frameworks between States and Indigenous peoples
 The NSW Government is committed to partnering with, and accountability to,  Aboriginal communities in order to support self-determination and produce    effective outcomes.

 This paper reviews academic and grey literature from Aboriginal standpoints  to explain differences between Aboriginal and government forms of                    accountability, and how they can work effectively together.

The paper finds that key elements of an Aboriginal-centred accountability framework include transferring accountability and decision-making to communities; capacity building within government, service providers and communities; local decision-making within a scaled-up collective decision-making approach; and a phased and flexible approach.

The Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research at University of Technology Sydney was commissioned by Aboriginal Affairs NSW to undertake this study.

Download the summary, full report, or annotated bibliography.


Practice paper – Co-designing recommendations to government: A literature review and case study

Successful recommendation making to government is a complex enterprise requiring attention to a range of issues, including the construction and wording of recommendations, knowledge of public service structures, budget, and government priorities, and willingness and ability to change.

This study, undertaken in partnership with Anthropos Consulting Services and Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research at Australian National University, examines the literature on co-design practice, and how it can be applied to recommendation making.

In drawing together existing evidence, the paper provides insights into the components of co-design and its benefits for developing recommendations, and the factors that contribute to acceptance of recommendations made to government. The paper provides specific strategies, tools and principles including building trust, allowing time, agreeing on the process, including the right people, capturing intent, prioritising, and including solutions.

Download the summary or the full report.

Click on the image below to access the webinar recording.


Exploring economic prosperity for Aboriginal peoples in New South Wales: Review of the literature

This study canvasses a wide range of literature across diverse disciplines to explore how the concepts of economic prosperity, development and wellbeing are understood and applied in diverse Indigenous and government contexts. The study investigates changes in understanding of these concepts over time and how these concepts have influenced discourses about Aboriginal peoples. It also explores how these concepts have been applied in Aboriginal policy debates and frameworks, particularly in NSW. The study concludes that there is a need to develop a policy-relevant and Aboriginal-led approach to prosperity from the ground up that recognises and invests in the diversity of First Peoples’ economic visions, values and aspirations across NSW.

The study was undertaken in partnership with Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research (CAEPR) at Australian National University.

Aboriginal Languages and Wellbeing in NSW – an explorative study

Anecdotal evidence suggests that there are many health and wellbeing benefits for Aboriginal people who speak their heritage language. This explorative study analysed NSW data from the Australian Census of Population and Housing, the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey and the National Indigenous Languages Survey collections to identify connections between speaking an Aboriginal language and Aboriginal wellbeing in NSW. The evidence gained through the study will inform work to achieve the commitments in the Aboriginal Languages Act 2017. The study was undertaken in partnership with the Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research at the Australian National University.

For a national focus, the Australian government’s National Indigenous Languages Report can be found here.


Does the media fail Aboriginal political aspirations? 45 years of news media reporting of key political moments

Does the media fail Aboriginal political aspirations? 45 years of news media reporting of key political moments

Aboriginal voices can positively influence the negativity that has characterised the mainstream media’s reporting of the most significant issues including recognition, human rights, wellbeing, housing, jobs, education and food on the table.

As the fourth pillar of our democracy, media play a central role in providing the public with information, creating awareness and reinforces deeper narratives, values and beliefs about Aboriginal peoples. As the fourth pillar of our democracy, media play a central role in providing the public with information, creating awareness and reinforces deeper narratives, values and beliefs about Aboriginal peoples. Media provide the conditions that support or hinder open, respectful and well-informed discussions about agreement-making with Aboriginal communities. The individuals and institutions that government seeks advice from including ministers, public officials, industry bodies and researchers are not immune to discourses.

This research, undertaken in partnership with the University of Technology, Sydney examines key national and NSW media events over the last 45 years from the 1972 Larrakia petition, to the 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart. The analysis exposes how the media frames stories, develops discourses, and supports deeper historical narratives that corrode and undermine the intent and urgency of Aboriginal aspirations, through approaches ranging from sympathetic stalling to patronising parodies. Does the media fail Aboriginal political aspirations? 45 years of news media reporting of key political moments is also available for purchase via the AIATSIS online store .


Are we mates yet? Agreement making between States and First Nations – what literature & prior experience tells us cover

Are we mates yet? Agreement making between States and First Nations – what literature & prior experience tells us

OCHRE is the NSW Government’s plan for Aboriginal affairs. OCHRE represents an ongoing commitment to fundamentally change the relationship between the NSW Government and Aboriginal communities through agreement making. To achieve a transformation in relationships, a greater understanding is required of what needs changing and how the changes can be achieved including the mechanisms enabling agreed change.

This research, undertaken in collaboration with Black Swan consulting, examines the purpose served by any changed relationship; what is needed to support positive change; the mechanisms and forms used to achieve the change; how self-government and self-determination under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) are understood and how these concepts support positive change; the various scales at which relationships are negotiated (e.g. National, State, regional, local); the relationship between concepts of nation-building and community-building, and variation in views between the major actors.


2006–16 Aboriginal population change in New South Wales

OCHRE Local Decision Making Accord Negotiation evaluation – Illawarra Wingecarribee Alliance Aboriginal Corporation

The Social Policy Research Centre at the University of NSW has published the findings of the evaluation of the Local Decision Making Accord negotiation process between the Illawarra Wingecarribee Alliance Aboriginal Corporation and NSW Government. Local Decision Making is an initiative under the OCHRE program. Accords are the vehicle for re-setting the relationship between Aboriginal communities and government and ensuring that decision-making between government and communities occurs collaboratively and in partnership. 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 Illawarra Wingecarribee Alliance Aboriginal Corporation.


2006–16 Aboriginal population change in New South Wales

OCHRE Local Decision Making Accord Negotiation evaluation – Three Rivers Regional Assembly

The Social Policy Research Centre at the University of NSW has published the findings of the evaluation of the Local Decision Making Accord negotiation process between the Three Rivers Regional Assembly and NSW Government. Local Decision Making is an initiative under the OCHRE program. Accords are the vehicle for re-setting the relationship between Aboriginal communities and government and ensuring that decision-making between government and communities occurs collaboratively and in partnership. 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 Three Rivers Regional Assembly.


2006–16 Aboriginal population change in New South Wales

2006–16 Aboriginal population change in New South Wales

The New South Wales (NSW) Aboriginal population is one of the fastest growing in the country. Estimates for the total Indigenous population in the state increased from around 189 000 in 2006 to around 267 000 in 2016. This very rapid growth is likely to lead to a significant number of policy challenges, and opportunities. The aim of this paper is to use data from the Census of Population and Housing in 2006, 2011 and 2016, as well as the associated Australian Census Longitudinal Dataset, to analyses the composition and implications of change in the Aboriginal population in NSW. Undertaken in in partnership with the Centre for Social Research and Methods at the Australian National University, the paper shows that some, but not all, of the growth in the Aboriginal population between 2006 and 2016 was driven by identification change (a net inflow of people who previously did not identify as being Indigenous but now do), as well as contributions from births and interstate migration. We also show that, although the Indigenous population in 2016 in NSW had substantially better socioeconomic outcomes than the 2006 and 2011 populations, a significant component of this improvement was because the newly identified Aboriginal population had more favourable outcomes than the always-identified population.


OCHRE evaluation stage 1 implementation and early outcomes

Practice paper: Weaving Knowledges. knowledge exchange, co-design and community-based participatory research and evaluation in Aboriginal communities

Working from the inspiration provided by the NSW Coalition of Aboriginal Regional Alliances in their report with recommendations to the NSW Government following Stage One of the OCHRE Evaluation, this paper explores the ‘threads’ of co-design and community-based participatory research as they relate to evaluation and research in Aboriginal contexts. The report aims to assist Aboriginal, research and policy communities in considering and implementing co-design in evaluation and community-based participatory research into the future. Undertaken in partnership with Black Swan Consulting, this paper provides the following factors to be keys to success: invest in mutual capacity building, pay attention to context, balance perspectives, co-design takes time, plan plan and plan some more, and co-design is needed throughout the evaluation not just upfront.

This study continues the examination of the OCHRE evaluation process that so far has looked at the challenges, aspirations, and motivations of NSW Aboriginal Affairs staff within their dual roles of Aboriginal community member and public servant; and the challenges and tensions in obtaining local Aboriginal community consent including the meaning of consent, and the management of consent processes.


OCHRE evaluation stage 1 implementation and early outcomes

OCHRE Evaluation: Stage 1 Implementation and early outcomes

With the approval of the local Aboriginal communities involved, the Social Policy Research Centre at the University of NSW has published the findings and recommendations from the evaluation of the implementation and early outcomes OCHRE program. The Social Policy Research Centre were appointed in 2017 to maintain the continuing conversations about OCHRE with local Aboriginal communities that commenced in 2012.

There is a full report and a summary report for each of the programs included in the evaluation and a report that synthesises the findings across these programs.

  • Campbelltown Opportunity Hub
  • Tamworth Opportunity Hub
  • Murdi Paarki Regional Assembly - Local Decision Making
  • Gumbaynggirr Aboriginal Language and Culture Nest
  • North West Wiradjuri Aboriginal Language and Culture Nest

Further information about the evaluation can be found here.


On our terms: obtaining Aboriginal community consent for social research

Practice paper: On our terms: obtaining Aboriginal community consent for social research

Gaining an Aboriginal community’s permission or agreement for research or evaluation activity goes to the very validity and integrity of research in Aboriginal contexts. Not only is the principle of ‘informed consent’ consistent with widely accepted ethical practice in social or human research, but ‘community consent’ is particularly important in Aboriginal contexts given an historical backdrop of Aboriginal people being either unwillingly subjected to, or unwittingly subjects of, research carried out by outsider institutions. Undertaken in partnership with Black Swan Consulting, this paper finds five critical success factors regarding Aboriginal community consent for social research: community empowerment, time, trust, local tailoring, and clear and constant communication.


Undertaking research and evaluation in Aboriginal public sector contexts: A ‘how to ‘guide cover

Undertaking research and evaluation in Aboriginal public sector contexts:
A ‘how to ‘guide

This guide provides practical support to public servants undertaking or managing research and evaluation activities in Aboriginal affairs in NSW. By grounding research and evaluation practice with Aboriginal communities from cultural, historical, social, post-colonial and political dimensions, the guide customises and complements the NSW Government Evaluation Framework. The guide recognises the challenges faced by Aboriginal public servants in undertaking research and evaluation on Aboriginal Country.


Return of public land cover

Aboriginal Land Recovery in New South Wales: Historical legacies and opportunities for change

In this report, Dr Heidi Norman from the University of Technology Sydney, examines the historical and current policy context relevant to the return of public lands to Aboriginal control or ownership in NSW. The paper provides an overview of the emerging issues, including the urgent need for policy reform and program innovation resulting from the escalation of land recovery over the next five to seven years, the centrality of Aboriginal peoples in development and planning and conservation, the enormous potential for Aboriginal land rights to create cultural, social and economic opportunities for Aboriginal people, and the tensions between the Aboriginal Land Rights and Native Title Acts. The report indicates that new insights are needed to assist Aboriginal groups to manage an expanded Aboriginal estate. This management would need to consider conservation, culture heritage management, industry and development imperatives, as well as any intra-community contests over governance.


McKell literature review cover

Literature review of approaches to Aboriginal affairs policies & case study of OCHRE development & implementation

Policy development relating to Aboriginal people in NSW has undergone significant and fundamental changes in approach in the last thirty to forty years. During 2012 and 2013, the NSW Government developed a new Aboriginal affairs policy. The policy, known as OCHRE, was developed within a framework of co-production between the Government and Aboriginal communities that included over 2,700 Aboriginal people in NSW.

So as to fully understand the successes and challenges in developing the OCHRE policy, and its subsequent implementation, the McKell Institute were commissioned in 2017 to conduct a process evaluation. The study points to the importance and complexities of genuine co-design with Aboriginal people. Findings suggest that success requires attention to timeframes, workforce, leadership, maintaining buy-in over time, accountability, and working within Aboriginal communities ways of knowing and doing. The report concludes that while other jurisdictions have attempted co-design “OCHRE stands alone in its scale and ambition”.

The case study is complemented by a literature review. Assessing the approach used in government policy development in Aboriginal affairs in NSW over the last 30-40 years the review highlights the major initiatives and structure of Aboriginal affairs policy in the state in modern times, and notes the unique nature of OCHRE in contrast to earlier policy development approaches.


IBA Review Cover

Review of State-wide Industry Based Agreements

State-wide industry based Agreements (IBAs) are public commitments from peak industry bodies and the NSW Government to forge long term partnerships that will strengthen economic prosperity and independence in local Aboriginal communities. A review of learnings and achievements from the operation of IBAs has been completed by The Centium Group Pty Ltd. The review suggests that the program would benefit from the involvement of Aboriginal communities at all stages, stronger program governance and accountability arrangements, a customised Program Logic Model for each IBA, and promotion of the learnings from the actions plans.


Rhetoric to Reality cover

Rhetoric to Reality: Devolving decision-making to Aboriginal communities

This research project explored the devolution of decision-making power from the NSW public service to Aboriginal communities, focusing on the structural and attitudinal changes required within the NSW public service to deliver better outcomes for Aboriginal communities. The findings suggest that devolution could be achieved through strengthening the career paths for Aboriginal public servants, increasing the cultural competency of public servants tailored to local contexts, including through building stronger relationships with Aboriginal communities, and encouraging public sector leaders to demonstrate a commitment and visibility in developing cultural competence for themselves and their staff. The project was undertaken in partnership between Aboriginal Affairs and students from the ANZSOG Executive Masters Program, under the supervision of the University of Sydney.


Insiders, Outsiders, Side by Siders paper cover

Practice paper: Insiders, Outsiders, Side-by-Siders: Adopting a normative approach to respond to parallel forces for change in evaluation of Indigenous-related public policies and program

This 2016 study, undertaken in partnership with Black Swan Consulting, examined the challenges, aspirations, and motivations of NSW Aboriginal Affairs staff in monitoring and evaluation spaces within their dual roles of Aboriginal community member and public servant. The study found that Aboriginal public servants could play a more constructive and enabling role in breaking down the barriers that get in the way of developing the rigorous evidence required to develop appropriate policy and practice responses. Achieving this requires re-thinking the ‘insiders’ and ‘outsiders’ paradigm. The paper concludes that the latter is unlikely to deliver the shared pool of expertise needed in the Aboriginal affairs public evaluation space, and that the former would be assisted through professional development that equips Aboriginal public servants with knowledge and skill in culturally appropriate research and evaluation.


evaluation theories and approaches research cover

Evaluation theories and approaches; relevance for Aboriginal context

This report provides the key findings of a literature review undertaken by the Social Policy Research Centre (UNSW Australia) to inform the methodological and ethical approach to the OCHRE evaluation. The report provides an overview of research and evaluation paradigms, the different types of evaluations, and the different stances taken to discern between these types of evaluations. The review has a particular focus on Indigenous evaluation theory and practice. The authors note that research and evaluation has tended to be viewed with hostility and suspicion by most Indigenous communities, although this can be mitigated through community controlled approaches. The recent growth in decolonising research approaches has led to the development of strict protocols and standards for researchers undertaking research in Indigenous communities. However, the research literature has acknowledged that achieving these standards can be very challenging, and that some are in tension with each other. Furthermore, there is little consideration about how to implement these standards in practice. Although the literature recognises that qualitative research methods have been traditionally favoured in Indigenous research and evaluation projects, the use of quantitative and economic evaluation methods is increasing, and can be used effectively if implemented in accordance with community protocols. The review concludes by recognising the potential for research and evaluation to be used as a resource for Aboriginal communities to advocate for their needs, for self-determination, and for the maintenance of language and culture.


Collection of NSW Aboriginal public policy

With the input of NSW government departments, a collection of public policies relating to Aboriginal affairs in NSW has been established. The policies included in the collection are those identified by the departments and operational in August 2015. The collection provides information on the geographic coverage, target population and policy focus. This project was undertaken in partnership with the Social Policy Research Centre (UNSW Australia).


Income Management approaches and alternatives

This report provides the results of a review of the literature on income management including benefits to individuals or communities, unintended consequences, and whether its aims could be achieved through other means. The authors conclude that no study has demonstrated that income management has resulted in improved parenting practices and child wellbeing for the mainstream population or for Aboriginal communities. Further, that managing a family’s income through income management may not be the most suitable policy to improve the wellbeing of Aboriginal children and their communities. The authors recommend caution on the use of income management for Aboriginal children and their communities and support alternative programs that have an established evidence base. The review was undertaken by the Social Policy Research Centre (UNSW Australia) and the Parenting Research Centre.


A review of knowledge and meaning for Aboriginal peoples in NSW

Undertaken in partnership with Professor Kerry Arabena in 2015, this review of the literature provides insights and draws conclusions about how Aboriginal peoples in NSW construct meaning, interpret their world, and assert their world view in the context of the predominant Western way of thinking.


evaluation theories and approaches research cover

Australian frameworks describing the Aboriginal population

Undertaken in partnership with the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare in 2015, this project examined Australian frameworks, including those under development, that describe the Aboriginal population. It includes information on why a framework was developed initially and how it has changed over time; who was consulted in its development; the protocols, principles, theories and practicalities underpinning the framework; its purpose and structure; the extent to which it includes the perspectives, views, knowledge systems and aspirations of Aboriginal peoples; and the outcome of any evaluations.


Attitudes towards Aboriginal Australians

Using existing data from the Reconciliation Barometer in 2012 and 2014 and ANUPoll in 2014, this study explores attitudes towards issues related to Aboriginal Australians both nationally and in NSW. The study was undertaken in partnership with the Australian National University’s Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research in 2015.


Aboriginal family violence

This review of the literature in 2014 was undertaken in partnership with Dr Kyllie Cripps and Julian Laurens, of the University of NSW’s Indigenous Law Centre. It examined the nature, extent, causes and impact of Aboriginal family and domestic violence in NSW and current responses in NSW and beyond. The authors identified significant gaps in the knowledge base, including a dearth of accurate statistics, too little research focused specifically on Aboriginal families and communities, and few robust evaluations of programs and approaches on which evidence-based responses can be built.


Aboriginal identification in NSW: the way forward. An Aboriginal peoples’ perspective

In 2013, Aboriginal Affairs undertook a study of the propensity of Aboriginal people in the state to identify as Aboriginal when seeking or receiving a government service. The study sought to understand what affected this decision, and how more Aboriginal people might be encouraged to identify as Aboriginal. This report provides the study findings.


The Aboriginal population of NSW in 2015: Policy options and challenges

The report provides the results of a scan of trends in NSW, and where relevant, broader demographic, economic and social environments, to identify emerging issues relevant to Aboriginal people in NSW.

Undertaken in partnership with the Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research at the Australian National University, the report identifies 19 areas of policy relevance, including demography, the economy, education, health and well-being, heritage, and justice and protection. It highlights areas for policy consideration, with reference to relevant literature and data.


Understanding Aboriginal identification in NSW: Evidence from the Australian Census Longitudinal Dataset

The Aboriginal population in NSW is estimated to be the largest in the country and one of the fastest growing. Part of this growth appears to be driven by residents of NSW who were not identified as Indigenous in the 2006 Census, but were identified as such in the 2011 Census. Aboriginal Affairs NSW, in partnership with the Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research at the Australian National University, investigated the demographic characteristics of the NSW populations that were identified as Indigenous in either the 2006 or the 2011 Census. The paper publishes the results, which shed light on this identification change.


Mapu yaan gurri, mapu marrunggirr: Healing our way

Published in partnership with the Healing Foundation, this report outlines the issues and outcomes from the OCHRE Healing Forum held on 23 July 2014. The forum provided a platform where policy makers – who influence the way their organisation thinks about and responds to healing – could engage in a broad and open discussion with Aboriginal community members and service providers who are involved every day in trauma and healing practices.


Aboriginal languages project

The Aboriginal languages project explores the connection between the teaching of Aboriginal languages and culture and the benefits to community well-being and engagement with the education system. Dr Shayne Williams has produced two papers.


The importance of teaching and learning Aboriginal languages and cultures: A mid-study impression paper

Dr Shayne Williams conducted a literature-based research study to explore the links between Aboriginal languages and cultures, Aboriginal community well-being and Aboriginal engagement with the education system. Citing a Canadian study which found a direct link between the speaking of an Indigenous language and a reduction in Indigenous youth suicide rates, Dr Williams concludes that Indigenous language use, as a marker of cultural persistence, is a strong predictor of health and well-being in Canada’s Aboriginal communities.


The importance of teaching and learning Aboriginal languages and cultures. The triangularity between language and culture, educational engagement and community cultural health and well-being

This paper provides the theoretical, informal and research-based evidence within international, national and NSW literature analysing the triangularity between the teaching and learning of Indigenous languages and cultures, educational engagement, participation and scholastic success, and community health and well-being.


The stolen generations. The removal of Aboriginal children in New South Wales 1883 to 1969

First published in 1981, this paper by Professor Peter Read documents the removal of Aboriginal children in NSW between 1883 and 1969, and its enduring effects.


NSW Government’s employment and economic development programs for Aboriginal people: Review of programs and broader considerations

This report reviews a number of NSW Government Aboriginal economic development and employment initiatives to determine their effectiveness in delivering the desired outcomes.


OCHRE – Approach to evaluation

This report explains the approach that will be taken to evaluating local decision making alliances, opportunity hubs, language and culture nests, and industry-based agreements – all of which are components of the NSW Government’s OCHRE strategy.


Evaluation of negotiations for the Murdi Paaki Local Decision Making Accord

This report publishes the findings of an evaluation, conducted in partnership with the Cultural and Indigenous Research Centre Australia (CIRCA), of the negotiations which led to the Murdi Paaki Accord. The report identifies strengths and weaknesses in the process, and suggests how it can be improved.



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