25 October 2019

Closing the Gap Consultations Discuss Aboriginal Community Control 

Aboriginal community consultations on a new National Agreement on Closing the Gap are moving into their third week around NSW.

Aboriginal community members will meet in seven locations next week to discuss progress on the development of a new National Agreement, and what is needed from government and non-government sectors to make real change.

The NSW Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations (CAPO) of which NSW Aboriginal Land Council is a member, is leading the Closing the Gap engagements across the state.

Consultations to date have delved into the three main Priority Action areas: to develop structures to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people embed their expertise to Close the Gap; build Aboriginal community-controlled service sectors to deliver services; and ensure mainstream agencies undertake structural transformation to contribute to Closing the Gap.

Next week's consultations will be held at Lismore Monday 28th October, Broken Hill Tuesday 29th October, Coffs Harbour Tuesday 29th October, Wilcannia Wednesday 30th October, Kempsey Wednesday 30th October, Menindee Thursday 31st October and Dareton Friday 1st November.

Venue details and start times are available at the Eventbrite link below. Lunch will be provided.

Aboriginal community members need to register their attendance, by going to this Eventbrite link: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/nsw-coalition-of-aboriginal-peak-organisations-16575398239

If you are unable to make the consultations, you can still have your say through an online survey. The survey closes on 8 November, 5pm.

And you can find more information on progress, targets and Priority Action areas in the booklet "A New Way of Working" here.

Please see the list below for the Closing the Gap consultation dates across the final two weeks.

Route 5

Broken Hill Tuesday 29th Oct

Wilcannia Wednesday 30th Oct

Menindee Thursday 31st Oct

Dareton Friday 1st Nov

Route 6

Lismore Monday 28th Oct

Coffs Harbour Tuesday 29th Oct

Kempsey Wednesday 30th Oct

Route 7

Redfern Monday 4th Nov

Mount Druitt Tuesday 5th Nov

Bathurst Thursday 7th Nov

Route 8

Albury Monday 4th Nov

Moree Tuesday 5th Nov

Walgett Wednesday 6th Nov