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

Murdi Paaki Regional Assembly Accord

The NSW Government and the Murdi Paaki Regional Assembly have strengthened their relationship with a commitment to renewed Local Decision Making arrangements, first established in 2015.

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Don Harwin, signed the second overarching Accord with the Assembly Chairperson Des Jones via a virtual ceremony on 9 September 2020.

The Assembly and the NSW Government will now meet to negotiate schedules around the priorities for the three-year Accord, which will include Economic Development, Law and Justice, and Early Childhood and School Education with health outcomes also identified across these priority areas.

Download the Murdi Paaki Regional Assembly Accord Download the Murdi Paaki Regional Assembly Accord

Riverina Murray Regional Alliance Local Decision Making Ngunggiyalali (Accord)

On 19 August 2020, an overarching Local Decision Making Ngunggiyalali (Accord) was signed between the NSW Government and the Riverina Murray Regional Alliance (RMRA) to commit to culturally-informed service delivery for Aboriginal communities across the region.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Don Harwin and Riverina Murray Regional Alliance (RMRA) Chairperson Ruth Davys marked the occasion with a virtual Accord Signing Ceremony.

The Agreement will see Government work with RMRA to preserve and enhance the Aboriginal cultures and identities of the region and increase the decision making autonomy, self-sufficiency and sustainability of its member communities.

Alliance and Government Lead Negotiators will now meet to negotiate schedules that focus on Health, Healing and Wellbeing, Law and Justice, and Housing.

Download the Riverina Murray Reguional Alliance Local Decision Making Ngunggiyalali (Accord) Download the Riverina Murray Reguional Alliance Local Decision Making Ngunggiyalali (Accord)

NSW Coalition of Aboriginal Regional Alliances Accord 

On the 27 February 2019 Mr Des Jones, Chairperson of the NSW Coalition of Aboriginal Regional Alliances and the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs The Hon. Sarah Mitchell MLC, for the NSW Government, signed an Accord jointly committing to work together to support, renew and return Aboriginal people to prosperity.This is the first multi-regional Accord and marks an important milestone under Local Decision Making, which is a key initiative under the NSW Government’s OCHRE – the NSW plan for Aboriginal affairs. Minister Mitchell commended the NSW Coalition of Aboriginal Regional Alliances for identifying two priority areas to work in partnership with the NSW Government:

  • Decreasing the number of Aboriginal youth entering the juvenile justice system including incarceration rates and recidivism;
  • Improving early childhood outcomes for Aboriginal children under five years of age, giving consideration to school-readiness, participation in pre-school education, health outcomes and family engagement.

Chairperson of the NSW Coalition of Regional Aboriginal Alliances, Des Jones said,“Aboriginal community voices are finally being heard and valued by the NSW Government under OCHRE”.Formal negotiations will commence in May 2019 prioritising engagement with government agencies to reduce the number of Aboriginal youth entering the juvenile justice system, including incarceration and recidivism. Considerable work has already been undertaken between the parties to develop targets and possible strategies.
Download the NSW Coalition of Aboriginal Regional Alliances Accord Download the NSW Coalition of Aboriginal Regional Alliances Accord View photos form the NCARA Accord signing event View photos form the NCARA Accord signing event

Murdi Paaki Social Housing Agreement

The Murdi Paaki Social Housing Agreement, signed on Monday 10 December 2018 between the Murdi Paaki Regional Assembly and the NSW Government, is focused on enabling joint decision making on Aboriginal social housing in the region and aims to improve the quality of social housing services and supply whilst building the capacity of Aboriginal housing providers.The Agreement establishes the Regional Aboriginal Housing Leadership Assembly (RAHLA), a joint decision making body which will direct the expenditure of $15 million dollars earmarked for the Murdi Paaki region through the former National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing.The Agreement puts Aboriginal people at the heart of decision making and is the first real attempt under Local Decision Making to co-design and jointly manage an area of policy in NSW.

RAHLA Membership

Independent Chairperson - Bob Davis
MPRA Members:
Des Jones
Grace Gordon
Pam Handy
Government Members:
Anne Campbell - Department of Communities and Justice
Ashley Albury - Regional NSW
Jody Broun - Aboriginal Housing Office
Roland Stanmore - NSW Treasury

View the Murdi Paaki Social Housing Agreement View the Murdi Paaki Social Housing Agreement View the photos from Murdi Paaki Social Housing Agreement Signing Event View the photos from Murdi Paaki Social Housing Agreement Signing Event

RAHLA Terms of Reference RAHLA Terms of Reference

RAHLA Dashboard - February 2021 RAHLA Dashboard - February 2021

Three Rivers Local Decision Making Accord

On Monday 10 December 2018, the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, The Hon. Sarah Mitchell MLC and the Chair of the Three Rivers Regional Assembly, Rod Towney signed a landmark agreement between Aboriginal people in the Three Rivers region and the NSW Government.This is the third agreement (Accord) to be signed between an Aboriginal governance body and the NSW Government as part of Local Decision Making, an initiative of OCHRE, the NSW Government’s community focused plan for Aboriginal affairs.The Accord is the primary mechanism for directing service delivery redesign and reinvestment in order to meet the needs and priorities of the Assembly. Through the Accord, the Assembly has worked together with senior government negotiators to design a raft of new solutions to meet local communities’ needs in four priority areas, including Education, Housing, Economic Development and Health.

View the Three Rivers Local Decision Making Accord View the Three Rivers Local Decision Making Accord View the photos from the Three Rivers Accord Signing Event View the photos from the Three Rivers Accord Signing Event

Illawarra Wingecarribee Accord

The second Local Decision Making Accord was signed between the Illawarra Wingecarribee Alliance Aboriginal Corporation and the NSW Government on Country on 14 May 2018. The Accord was signed on behalf of the state of NSW by the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and on behalf of the Illawarra Wingecarribee Alliance Aboriginal Corporation by the Chair, Mr Geoffrey Maher. It outlines agreed actions to address the needs and priorities negotiated between the Alliance and the NSW Government.

View the Illawarra Wingecarribee Accord View the Illawarra Wingecarribee Accord View photos of the Accord Signing View photos of the Accord Signing

Murdi Paaki Accord

The first Local Decision Making Accord was signed between the Murdi Paaki Regional Assembly and the NSW Government at Government House on 19 February 2015. The Accord was signed on behalf of the state of NSW by the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and on behalf of the Murdi Paaki Regional Assembly by then Chair, Mr Sam Jeffries. It outlines agreed actions to address the needs and priorities negotiated between the Assembly and the NSW Government.

View the Murdi Paaki Accord View the Murdi Paaki Accord



Go Back