15 October, 2019

15 October 2019

Closing the Gap Consultations Have Begun

Historic community consultations on a new National Agreement on Closing the Gap have begun in NSW.

Community members have commenced discussions at the Tolland Community Centre in Wagga Wagga and The Neighbourhood Centre in Deniliquin, with many more conversations to follow over the next four weeks.

The consultations will include discussion about the work that has been done on the development of the new National Agreement so far and get ideas on what is needed from government and non-government sectors to make real change.

Consultations are focussing on building understanding for Closing the Gap reform priorities, as well as talking through what is needed to make sure the reform priorities deliver real change to people’s lives, taking into account differing local contexts.

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. 

NSW is embarking on the largest number of consultations, more than any other state or territory, with an emphasis on hearing community views about what is needed to what is needed to close the gap in life outcomes between Aboriginal people and other Australians.

Upcoming consultations this week will be held in Balranald and Young on Wednesday 16^th October, Griffith and Queanbeyan on Thursday 17^th October and Bateman’s Bay on Friday 18^th October.

All consultations run from 11am-3pm with lunch provided.

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 25 October, 5pm.

Please see the list below for the Closing the Gap consultation dates across four weeks

Route 1
Deniliquin Tuesday 15th Oct
Balranald Wednesday 16th Oct
Griffith Thursday 17th Oct

Route 2
Wagga Wagga Tuesday 15th Oct
Young Wednesday 16th Oct
Queanbeyan Thursday 17th Oct
Batemans Bay Friday 18th Oct

Route 3
Dubbo Tuesday 22nd Oct
Condobolin Wednesday 23rd Oct
Cobar Thursday 24th Oct
Bourke Friday 25th Oct

Route 4
Newcastle Tuesday 22nd Oct
Central Coast Wednesday 23rd Oct
Muswellbrook Thursday 24th Oct
Tamworth Friday 25th Oct

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
Moree Tuesday 5th Nov
Walgett Wednesday 6th Nov
Community members can register below: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/nsw-coalition-of-aboriginal-peak-organisations-16575398239