The Closing the Gap 2020 report shows little progress on any of the goals, as only two of the seven goals have still been met (four expired in 2018). [27] The Prime Minister`s foreword indicates that the final results of the previous twelve years` evidence were not expected, but that there were stories and successes worth celebrating and that progress had been made in almost every action, including in the key areas of health and education. Morrison wrote that “the new framework is based on a true partnership.” [28] National Partnership Agreements (NPAs) are agreements between the Commonwealth of Australia and states and territories. They ensure that all levels of government commit to the same framework for results, measures of progress and strategic directions. NPAs build on existing initiatives, fill gaps and can provide additional funding. Six agreements were originally included in the Closing the Gap policy: the Australian National Congress of First Peoples is the nationally representative voice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The Congress was developed following consultations and submissions to a steering committee supported by the Australian Human Rights Commission. The first Board of Directors of the National Congress of First Peoples of Australia was appointed in April 2010. In 2011, the National Health Leadership Forum (NHLF) was established [30931].
The NHLF is made up of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health organizations and the Close the Gap Steering Committee. It is the national representative body of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, advising and working with the Australian Government to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. In the Prime Minister`s foreword to the 2019 Gap Reduction Report, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that while some improvements have been made, including a stronger year 12 maintenance, successive governments have signaled that they have not met the targets. After beginning the process of “refreshing” the gap reduction two years earlier (after four of the targets expired in 2018), this would be the final report of the framework established in 2008. In December 2018, a coalition of Aboriginal and Australian Torres Strait Islanders met with Morrison, and shortly thereafter, COAG Prime Ministers agreed on a different form of partnership with Indigenous organizations, which includes greater cooperation. Going forward, there would be a transition to another phase of closing the gap, which includes a whole-of-government approach where “all governments share responsibility for progress and extend that shared responsibility to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.” [8] The National Indigenous Australians Agency was established in July 2019 under the leadership of the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Ken Wyatt,[13][14] and is now responsible for “leading and coordinating the development and implementation of Australia`s goals to close the gap in partnership with Indigenous Australians.” [10] [15] To accelerate improved life outcomes, programs and services must be designed, developed and implemented in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have called for a strengths-based, community-led approach that values their experience. The draft goal for 2019 aimed to address several areas aimed at improving the lives of Indigenous peoples. These were prepared by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) in December 2018 and listed the following areas: families, children and young people; health; education; economic development; Housing; justice (including juvenile justice); land and water (“where the land, water and cultural rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are realized”); and inter-ecosystem priorities that “address racism, discrimination and social inclusion, healing and trauma, and the promotion of culture and language for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples”. [17] The National Accord also sets out 17 national socio-economic objectives in areas such as education, employment, health and well-being, justice, security, housing, land and water, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages.
The goals will help track progress in improving the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. New engagement and accountability mechanisms are included in the draft national agreement, which means that jurisdictions will work in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to implement the agreement, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will have a say in how the National Accord works for them. As of 2019 [Update], eleven gap filling reports have been submitted to Parliament, containing data in areas where data were not previously available and updates on progress. [16] The Close the Gap campaign produced 10 reports, including a 10-year review in 2018. [1] In March 2019, a formal partnership between COAG and the National Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peak Organisations (NCATSIPO) or Coalition of Peaks[9] came into effect, including provisions for joint council to close the gap to improve joint decision-making. [10] The Gap Reduction Partnership Agreement, 2019-2029, was signed by representatives of NCATSIPO, each state and territorial government, and the Australian Local Government Association. [11] The Joint Council on Gap Reduction met for the first time on March 27, 2019. [12] (NATSIHP) [25558]. . . .
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