Policy + Reform initiatives
Ngaweeyan Maar-oo is dedicated to informing the design, implementation and monitoring of the commitments set out in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and the Victorian Closing the Gap Implementation Plan.
The National Agreement is underpinned by four Priority Reforms areas which are aimed at driving systemic and structural transformation across governments and how they work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, communities and organisations.
Priority Reform 1:
Formal Partnerships and Shared Decision Making
Under the National Agreement, the Parties commit to building and strengthening structures that empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to share decision-making authority with governments to accelerate policy and place-based progress against Closing the Gap.
The Partnership Forum is comprised of Ngaweeyan Maar-oo and the Victorian Government and is the shared decision-making body for the implementation of Closing the Gap in Victoria.
In Victoria, current work underway as part of achieving this priority reform includes the Morwell Place-Based Partnership being led by VACCA.
Ngaweeyan Maar-oo is also represented on several Policy Partnerships that have been established under the National Agreement.
More information on each of these can be found below:
Justice (adult and youth incarceration)
Social and emotional wellbeing
Priority Reform 2:
Building the Aboriginal Community Controlled Sector
Under the National Agreement, parties commit to building formal Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled sectors to deliver services to support Closing the Gap.
This Priority Reform requires Sector Strengthening Plans to be developed across the following sectors:
Early childhood care and development [PDF]
Housing [PDF]
Health [PDF]
Disability [PDF]
In Victoria, the Sector Strengthening Fund has also support several projects being lead by our members across a range of sectors. More information on these is available below.
Health
The Victorian Aboriginal Health Services (VAHS), Ngaweeyan Maar-oo’s social and emotional well-being sector rep, is leading the Pathway to Closing the Gap in Social and Emotional Wellbeing for First Peoples in Victoria project.
The project aims to creative a collective of Blak Knowledge Holders to strengthen the Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) sector by collating a collection of knowledge holders to:
- Determine the priority projects required to Close the Gap Target 14 in particular looking at a model of care and workforce needs
- As part of the Pathway look at a model of care that also ensures referrals to culturally safe care in mainstream providers and services
- A model of care for social and emotional wellbeing that is elevated and contextualised to the same level as current clinical practice
- A model of care that captures the importance of culture and kinship
- Analysing what is happening around SEWB for First Peoples across Victoria and find the areas with gaps in supports and service delivery
- Share in decision-making around what we need to support SEWB
- Analyse the current governance of SEWB and provide recommendations on how to strengthen governance and importance of SEWB
- Develop collective solutions for our organisations to deliver with communities, and
- Influence SEWB policy and funding from the Victorian Government This analysis can be collated into a Pathway for Victoria to Close the Gap on Social and Emotional Wellbeing 2024-2031.
The project’s outcomes:
- Develop a strategic network of Blak experts and knowledge holders on SEWB
- Advocate for the elevation and inclusion of SEWB across Closing the Gap governance mechanisms
- Development of a clear Victorian ACCO-led strategy to close the gap on SEWB for First Peoples across their life span
- Develop contextualised model of care that is elevated to that of clinical care
- Develop a model of care that captures workforce development and needs.
Housing
Aboriginal Housing Victoria, Ngaweeyan Maar-oo’s housing sector rep, is leading the development of the Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness 5-year Regional Growth Plans.
The project will support CTG Priority reform Two Sector Strengthening Clause 55a and 55b of the National Agreement through the development of 5-year regional growth plans for each region. Regional plans will aim to capture key activities to implement Mana-na woorn-tyeen maar-takoort including new social and affordable housing supply, homelessness reforms to improve support for Aboriginal clients and accommodation and long-term housing outcomes as well as capacity building activities to support workforce development and the scaling up of Aboriginal housing and homelessness providers.
Development of the regional plans will be led by ACCOs in the region with support from the AHV AHHF Secretariat and DFFH Divisions. Once the foundation of plans are established it is envisioned regional governance arrangements will be developed to complete the plans with DFFH Divisions and local area housing offices. Other regional stakeholders will be invited to participate including mainstream housing and homelessness providers and depending on the individual plans priorities it could also involve local councils.
Disability
Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative, Ngaweeyan Maar-oo’s disability sector rep, is leading a project to build the capacity of Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) to deliver a full range of culturally responsive financially viable disability services.
Through the collaborative development of models, resources, and support to improve and grow the scope of NDIS services within the accho sector, the project will:
- Engage with experts in the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHO) and Disability field to develop a model of NDIS that works to complement the current ACCHO structure.
- Develop resources and supports tailored to the ACCHO sector to support effective financially viable and compliant NDIS operations.
- Engage with Victorian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations and work to support them to deliver a full range of culturally responsive disability support services that achieve much greater social and economic participation of Aboriginal people with disabilities.
The project will also work with key stakeholders such as the Victorian peak body (VACCHO) to engage with governments to develop a reliable and appropriate funding model and to ensure a consistent voice for ACCOs who deliver National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) services.
Early Education and Childhood Development
Bubup project
Culture and Language
Project proposals still pending.
Learn more about our Members and Sector Organisations who represent the interests of these priority areas in the Aboriginal Community Controlled sector.
Priority Reform 3:
Transforming Government Organisations
Under the National Agreement, parties commit to systemic and structural transformation of mainstream government organisations to improve accountability and respond to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Priority Reform Three was strongly supported by the 2019 engagement process.
Work to establish an independent mechanism is being progressed through Treaty negotiations.
Work is underway to implement this priority reform in Victoria. We’ll update you with more information soon.
Priority Reform 4:
Shared access to Data and Information at a Regional Level
Shared access to location specific data and information will support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations to support the achievement of the first three Priority Reforms through:
- Priority Reform One: Participating as equal partners with government, with equal access to all processes and information to support shared decision-making.
- Priority Reform Two: Driving their own development by making evidence-based decisions on the design, implementation and evaluation of policies and programs for their communities in order to develop local solutions for local issues.
- Priority Reform Three: Measuring the transformation of government organisations operating in their region to be more responsive and accountable for Closing the Gap.
Work is underway to implement this priority reform in Victoria. We’ll update you with more information soon.
