This focuses on facilitating shared access to locally relevant data and information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The ultimate goal is to empower them with access to, and the capability to utilise, data and information pertinent to their communities. This access enables them to set priorities, monitor implementation efforts to close the gap, and drive their own development.

The implementation of Priority Reform 4 centres on providing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations with access to location-specific data and information. This access is instrumental in supporting the achievement of the first three Priority Reforms:

Priority Reform 1: Ensuring equal participation as partners with the government, with access to all processes and information for shared decision-making. Priority Reform 2: Empowering communities to drive their own development by making evidence-based decisions on policy design, implementation, and evaluation to address local issues. Priority Reform 3: Monitoring the transformation of government organisations in their regions to enhance responsiveness and accountability for Closing the Gap.

Recognising that disaggregated data and information are most useful for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, Priority Reform 4 emerged from the 2019 engagement process. NSW CAPO and its partners strive to empower Aboriginal communities with the tools and knowledge needed to shape their futures and drive meaningful change.

In this digital age, our stories and future are encoded in the data that surrounds us.

When Aboriginal communities have custodianship and governance of our data, we can demonstrate our sovereignty and reclaim narratives.

NSW CAPO is working with Aboriginal communities to transform NSW Data Ecosystems and make government-held data accessible to Aboriginal communities.

NSW CAPO's project on Aboriginal Data Sovereignty and Governance meets Priority Reform 4 commitments within the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and the NSW Implementation Plan for Closing the Gap.

Community's Voice

NSW CAPO are responsible for ensuring that “community voices determine how NSW meets its commitments under the National Agreement.”

Between September 2023 and December 2024, the NSW CAPO PR4 Team developed and led three series of community roundtables in order to:

• Build Aboriginal communities’ awareness and understanding of Aboriginal Data Sovereignty and Governance;
• Explore the practical requirements for establishing, implementing and/or supporting this across NSW communities;
• Explore existing examples of Data Sovereignty and Governance in practice;
• Workshop a potential model to operationalise Aboriginal Data Governance across NSW; and
• Iteratively report back and build on communities’ input.