Updated 2025–26 NIAA Purpose, Key Activities and Performance Measures
Updated NIAA Purpose and Key Activities
As part of the NIAA’s enterprise performance uplift, the NIAA reviewed and refined its purpose and key activities for 2025–26 as outlined in Table A below. The updated 2025–26 Purpose and Key Activities align with the NIAA’s Executive Order and PBS Outcome Statement, enhancing the clear read between key corporate planning and performance information.
Table A: NIAA Purpose and Key Activity changes
| 2025–26 – Purpose and Key Activities | 2024–25 Purpose and Key Activities |
|---|---|
| Purpose: To ensure the needs and aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are met through government policies, programs, and services. | Purpose: The NIAA works in genuine partnership to enable the self determination and aspirations of First Nations communities. We lead and influence change across government to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have a say in the decisions that affect them. |
| Key Activity 1: We lead and coordinate Closing the Gap, fulfil our commitments under the National Agreement, and influence governments to deliver policies, programs and services. | Key Activity 2: Lead and coordinate across government to implement the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. |
| Key Activity 2: We work in partnership to support the self-determination and aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. | Kay Activity 1: Build and maintain effective partnerships to support the empowerment and self-determination of First Nations peoples. |
| Key Activity 3: We deliver targeted programs through the Indigenous Advancement Strategy and partnership agreements. | Key Activity 3: Invest and deliver programs and policies to achieve positive outcomes for First Nations peoples and communities. |
| Not continued | Key Activity 4: Use evaluation findings and information to inform evidence based decisions that support the positive impact of policies and programs. |
Changes to NIAA 2025–26 Performance Measures
The NIAA has revised performance measures for 2025–26 with the aim of adopting a more strategic and purpose-driven framing. This reflects a deliberate, methodologically robust shift aligned to the NIAA’s refined purpose and refreshed key activities.
The 2025–26 suite of performance measures includes new, replaced or revised performance measures as outlined in Table B below. Revised performance measures have been updated to strengthen alignment and improve measurement techniques while ensuring comparability over time. Table C lists 2024–25 performance measures which have not been continued for 2025–26.
Table B: performance measure changes
| 2025–26 performance measure | Type of change | Summary of change | Change narrative and link to 2024- 25 performance measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 Closing the Gap - NIAA actions under the National Agreement are delivered, ensuring accountability across all parties, leading to improved life outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. | Revised | Revised performance measure name, planned performance result and targets. | Purpose: The NIAA works in genuine partnership to enable the self-determination and aspirations of First Nations communities. We lead and influence change across government to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have a say in the decisions that affect them. |
| 1.2 Economic Empowerment - Increased participation of Indigenous businesses in Commonwealth Government procurement supports the economic empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. | Revised | Revised performance measure name, planned performance result and target. | This is an evolved performance measure for 2025–26. The performance measure maintains continuity with performance measure 4 from the 2024–25 Corporate Plan and the performance measure listed under 2025 26 PBS Program 1.7 – Program Suppor t, drawing on the same methodology, data sources, and reporting approach to ensure comparability over time. |
| 1.3 Food Security - Implementation of the National Strategy for Food Security in Remote First Nations Communities, supported by Commonwealth foundational initiatives, enabling improved health and food security in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. | New | New performance measure | New performance measure |
| 2.1 Partnership - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander priorities are embedded in government policy, programs and investment through partnerships. | Replaced | Revised performance measure name, planned performance result and target. | This performance measure replaced performance measures 1 and 2 from the 2024–25 Corporate Plan to significantly enhance the approach to measure the dynamic way in which the NIAA works in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, including partnerships through formal and informal agreements. |
| 2.2 Housing - Increased access to secure and appropriate housing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, supporting improved housing outcomes. | New | New performance measure | New performance measure |
| 2.3 NT Remote Aboriginal Investment - Aboriginal people in remote Northern Territory communities have access to essential services that support progress towards socio-economic targets. | New | New performance measure | New performance measure |
| 3.1 Remote Jobs and Economic Development - Employment opportunities aligned with local needs and aspirations are increased and sustained in remote communities, supporting economic participation and long term community development. | Revised | Revised performance measure name, planned performance result and additional targets. | This is an evolved performance measure for 2025–26. The performance measure maintains continuity with performance measures 8 and 9 from the 2024–25 Corporate Plan and the performance measure listed under 2025–26 PBS Program 1.1 – Jobs, Land and Economy, drawing on the same methodology, data sources, and reporting approach to ensure comparability over time. |
| 3.2 Remote Australia Employment Service - Access to tailored, culturally responsive employment services supports sustained employment outcomes contributing to long term economic and social development of remote Australia. | Revised | Revised performance measure name, rationale updated to communicate the transition from the Community Development Program to the Remote Australia Employment Service. | This is an evolved performance measure for 2025–26. The performance measure maintains continuity with performance measure 7 from the 2024–25 Corporate Plan and the performance measure listed under 2025 26 PBS Program 1.1 – Jobs, Land and the Economy, drawing on the same methodology, data sources, and reporting approach to ensure comparability over time. |
| 3.3 Indigenous Rangers Program - Indigenous Rangers Program supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to manage their lands and waters in line with Traditional Owner aspirations. | New | New performance measure | New performance measure |
| 3.4 Indigenous Advancement Strategy Service Requirements - Indigenous Advancement Strategy funded services meet or exceed contracted delivery requirements. | Revised | Revised performance measure name and planned performance result. | This is an evolved performance measure for 2025–26. The performance measure maintains continuity with performance measure 6 from the 2024–25 Corporate Plan and the performance measure listed under 2025–26 PBS Programs 1.1 – Jobs, Land and the Economy, 1.2 – Children and Schooling, 1.3 – Safety and Wellbeing, 1.4 – Culture and Capability and 1.5 – Remote Australia Strategies , drawing on the same methodology, data sources, and reporting approach to ensure comparability over time. |
Table C: 2024–25 performance measures – not continued in 2025–26
| Discontinued 2024–25 performance measures |
|---|
| Measure 5 – Proportion of the NIAA’s investment through IAS grants that align with Closing the Gap outcomes and Priority Reforms. |
| Measure 10 – Maintain and up-to-date IAS Evaluation Work Plan on the NIAA website. |
| Measure 11 – Proportion of completed IAS Evaluation Work Plan evaluations that are published within 6 months of a management response being accepted by the NIAA. |