Closing the Gap Implementation Plan 2022

Partnership Actions:

• Five joined up partnerships between the Commonwealth, states and territories and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives in priority policy areas – Commonwealth support to establish the Justice Policy Partnership as a priority (New)
•  Six place-based partnerships

Jurisdictional Actions:

• Stocktake of partnership arrangements
• Review and strengthen existing partnerships

Commonwealth Actions:

• Supporting the partnership with the Coalition of Peaks (New)
• Indigenous Voice Proposals
• Empowered Communities

Partnership Actions:

• Sector Strengthening Plans for joint national strengthening effort

Jurisdictional Actions:

• Develop and implement policies to increase the proportion of service delivery through Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, particularly community controlled-organisations (New)
• Spending review to identify current spending on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs and services

Commonwealth Actions:

• Strengthen the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service sector through improved infrastructure (New)
• Building the Community Controlled Sector Joint Funding Pool
• Indigenous Advancement Strategy – preferencing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations
• Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC)
• Indigenous Procurement Policy
• Jawun Partnership

Partnership Actions:  

• Develop or strengthen an independent mechanism, or mechanisms, that will support, monitor, and report on the transformation of mainstream agencies and institutions.

Jurisdictional Actions:

• Publish engagement approaches
• Engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives before, during, and after emergencies such as natural disasters and pandemics
• Information on undertaking and meeting the transformation elements will be included in future Commonwealth annual reports

Commonwealth Actions:

• Framework for Engagement (New)
• Stolen Generations Reparation Scheme (New)
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Capability Framework
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Workforce Strategy 2020–2024
• Reconciliation Australia
• APS Indigenous Graduate Program
• Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
• Services Australia Customer Experience Survey
• The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan review

Partnership Actions:  

• Develop Community Data Projects
• Data Development Plan

Commonwealth Actions:

• AIATSIS Knowledge Exchange Platform (KEP)
• ABS Round Table for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Statistics
• Progress in Australian Regions Online Dashboard
• Australian Data Strategy
• Regional Data Hub through the Better Data Use to Support Delivery for Regional Australians program

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Partnerships Forums
• Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS) sector
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group on COVID-19
• National Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO)
• National Health Leadership Forum

• Closing the gap in life expectancy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people - Health Infrastructure (New)
• Strengthening Indigenous Alcohol and Other Drugs Treatment Services (New)
• The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2021-31
• Continue to strengthen the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS) Sector
• Improve access to primary health care
• Prevention and early intervention of cancer, acute rheumatic fever/rheumatic heart disease and trachoma
• Chronic disease care coordination and management
• Reduce rates of smoking among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
• Research that benefits Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led research
• Increase access to and quality use of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicines
• Grow the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce
• Improve cultural safety across the health system
• National Palliative Care Strategy and Implementation Plan
• Data access and sharing
• Increase Primary Health Networks Service availability alcohol and other drugs treatment services
• Prioritising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations in preventing communicable diseases

Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS) sector for the delivery of maternal and antenatal health services

• Improving the Health and Wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mothers and Babies (New)
• Investment in delivery of comprehensive primary health care through Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services, including antenatal care
• Investment in targeted antenatal and maternal health
• Preventive health awareness campaign on foetal alcohol spectrum disorder and Tackling Indigenous Smoking
• Sexual health rapid testing program across Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services and expanded workforce
• Investment in preventative and public health research on maternal and child health

• Working with the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC) on a range of initiati ves, including the early childhood strategy and development sector strengthening plan

• Community Child Care Fund (CCCF) (existing and new)
• Connected Beginnings (existing and new)
• Early Years Education Program Expansion (new)
• Early Learning Teaching Model Trial (new)
• Preschool funding arrangements through the Preschool Reform Agreement.
• Child Care Subsidy and Child Care Safety Net, including Additional Child Care Subsidy, Inclusion Support Program, Connected Beginnings and Community Child Care Fund
• Children's Education and Care National Workforce Strategy
• National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Early Childhood Strategy.
• Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
• Indigenous Advancement Strategy Program 1.2 - Children and Schooling, Early Childhood Projects
• Inclusion Support Program

*See Outcome 4 for more actions

• Working with the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC) on a range of initiatives, including the early childhood strategy and development sector strengthening plan

• Community Child Care Fund (existing and new)
• Connected Beginnings (existing and new)
• Early Years Education Program Expansion (new)
• Early Learning Teaching Model Trial (new)
• Child Care Subsidy and Child Care Safety Net, including Additional Child Care Subsidy, Inclusion Support Program, Connected Beginnings and Community Child Care Fund
• Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children 
• Place Based Responses
• Indigenous Advancement Strategy Program 1.2 - Children and Schooling, Early Childhood Projects
• Investment in research

*See Outcome 3 Table for more actions

• Currently engaging with a group of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education stakeholders through bi-annual Indigenous Education Consultative Meetings
• National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Council (NATSIEC)

• City-Country School Partnerships (New)
• Scaling up Proven Primary Reading Programs (New)
• Building Schools on Country (New)
• The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership project to enhance Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency in the Australian teacher workforce will be implemented in schools
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Loading element of school recurrent funding
• Working in partnership to formally establish and incorporate the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Council
• Research, tools and strategies to boost Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages
• Schools and Youth - Supporting students, teachers and young Australians
• Girls Academy

• National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Council (NATSIEC)
• Union of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students
• National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Postgraduate Association
• National Indigenous Research and Knowledges Network (NIRAKN)

• Improving VET data collection and sharing
• Job-Ready Graduates Package - New Indigenous, Regional and Low Socio-Economic Status (SES) Attainment Fund (IRLSAF)
• Job Ready Graduates package - demand driven funding for Indigenous regional and remote students
• Job-ready Graduates
• National Skills Reform Agenda
• Mission Based Compacts for Universities
• Universities Australia Indigenous Strategy 2017-2020
• Australian Apprenticeships programs
• Foundation Skills for Your Future – Remote Community Pilots
• Foundation skills programs
• Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program
• Indigenous Student Success Program
• Commonwealth Grant Scheme funding
• Higher Education Loan Program
• Regional Partnership Project Pool
• Regional University Centres
• Rural Regional enterprise scholarships
• Away from Base mixed mode program

• the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Council (once incorporated)
• Indigenous Education Consultative Meetings
• National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Higher Education Consortium
• Union of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students
• National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Principals Association
• National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Postgraduate Association
• National Indigenous Research and Knowledges Network

• jobactive
• Disability Employment Services
• Transition to Work
• Youth Jobs PaTH
• ParentsNext
• Time to Work Employment Service
• Yarrabah Employment Services
• New Business Assistance with New Enterprise Incentive Scheme
• Community Development Program (CDP)
• Tailored Assistance Employment Grants (TAEG)  - Employment
• Tailored Assistance Employment Grants (TAEG) – School Based Traineeship
• Tailored Assistance Employment Grants (TAEG) – Cadetships
• Vocational Training and Employment Centres (VTEC)
• Employment Parity Initiative (EPI)
• The new Indigenous Skills and Employment Program (ISEP)
• Indigenous Business Sector Strategy (IBSS)
• Indigenous Business and Employment Hubs
• Indigenous Procurement Policy (IPP)
• The Indigenous Employment and Supplier-Use Infrastructure Framework
• The Indigenous Employment and Supplier‑Use Water Infrastructure Framework
• Indigenous Local Employment fund (ILEF)

*See Outcomes 6 and 8 for more actions

• Prison to Work Pilots
• Time to Work Employment Service - remote
• Local Jobs Program
• New Employment Services Model
• Early Stage Social Enterprise Foundation

* See Outcome 7 for more actions

• Housing has been identified as an area for a collaborative policy approach as one of the joint policy partnerships
• community controlled housing sector is one of the priority areas for the development of a Sector Strengthening Plan

• Indigenous Home Ownership Program (IHOP)
• National Rental Affordability Scheme
• Building capacity of Indigenous Community Housing Organisations
• National Housing and Homelessness Agreement (NHHA)
• National Housing and Homelessness Agreement (NHHA) Review
• Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA)
• The National Partnership for Remote Housing in the Northern Territory (NPRHNT)
• Community controlled housing in the Northern Territory
• Aboriginal Hostels Limited (AHL)
• National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation (NHFIC)
• Barkly Regional Deal

• Justice Policy Partnership

• Funding to establish and support the Justice Policy Partnership (New)
• Funding provided to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (ATSILS) to provide legal assistance to families of deceased individuals in coronial inquiries, and to support clients involved in complex and/or expensive criminal cases (New)
• Provide funding to states and territories to support implementation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment and Punishment (OPCAT) (New)
• Funding provided to Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) to deliver culturally safe and appropriate family dispute resolution (New)
• Additional funding for Domestic Violence Units (DVUs) and Health Justice Partnerships (HJPs)
• Funding for additional Indigenous Liaison Officers (ILOs)
• Additional funding for Children’s Contact Services
• Funding provided to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (ATSILS)
• Indigenous Advancement Strategy Safety and Wellbeing Program
• Continue to deliver actions in response to the Council of Australian Governments Prison to Work Report.
• National Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Strategic Action Plan 2018-28

• Justice Policy Partnership

• Funding to establish and support the Justice Policy Partnership (New)
• Funding provided to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (ATSILS) to provide legal assistance to families of deceased individuals in coronial inquiries, and to support clients involved in complex and/or expensive cases (New)
• Providing funding to states and territories to support implementation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment and Punishment (OPCAT) (New)
• Funding provided to Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) to deliver culturally safe and appropriate family dispute resolution  (New)
• National Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Strategic Action Plan 2018-28

• The new National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children (New)
• Improving multidisciplinary responses to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families with multiple and complex needs  (New)
• Developing an Outcomes and Evidence Fund (New)
• Developing the cultural competency and trauma responsiveness of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child and family sector workforce (New)
• Assess the needs and increasing the involvement of Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) (New)
• Formalise Partnership Arrangements with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander partners
• Family and Children Activity grants

• The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Council on family, domestic and sexual violence Council will work with the National Federation Reform Council (NFRC) Taskforce on Women’s Safety

• Deliver the next National Plan to End Violence against Women and their Children (the National Plan) (New)
• Developing an Outcomes and Evidence Fund (New)
• National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse
• Develop resources that aim to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls with a disability, and improve service responses when violence occurs
• Women's Safety
• Improve information sharing between the family law and the family violence and child protection systems
• Funding for the Family Violence Prevention Legal Services (FVPLS)
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Council on family, domestic and sexual violence
• Establish the first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Personal Safety Survey
• Establishing a comprehensive data and reporting system on family, domestic and sexual violence (FDSV)
• Linking Crime and Justice Data

• Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia
• New national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander national leadership body for social and emotional wellbeing, mental health and suicide prevention

• The Indigenous Advancement Strategy (IAS) - 1.3 Safety and Wellbeing Alcohol and Other Drugs services (AOD) and (Low Aromatic Fuel (LAF) (New and existing)
•  The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Strategy 2013 (NATSISPS)
• The National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ Mental Health and Social and Emotional Wellbeing
• Strengthening partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander partners
• Mental health workforce
• Increasing the research and evidence-base
• National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan – Mental Health

• National Native Title Council (NNTC)
• Prescribed Bodies Corporate (PBCs)
• Four Northern Territory Land Councils
• Benefit Account (ABA) Advisory Committee
• Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council
• 15 Native Title Representative Bodies and Service Providers (NTRBs-SPs)

• Capacity building funding to support Prescribed Bodies Corporate (PBCs) and to the National Native Title Council (NNTC) to develop shared reform priorities
• Funding a network of 15 Native Title Representative Bodies and Service Providers (NTRB SPs)
• Establishing a new Aboriginal-controlled body
• Funding the four Northern Territory Land Councils and supporting the operations of the Aboriginal Land Commissioner
• Funding the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC)
• Native Title Research Unit (NTRU)
• Funding for the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council
• Reform of the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (CATSI Act)
• Federal Court of Australia appointment of an Indigenous Registrar to co-mediate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander disputes
• Federal Court of Australia to engage with external Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mediators to appropriately co-mediate disputes.
• Native Title Anthropologists Grants Program
• Native Title Legislation Amendment Act 2021
• Extending the funding of the Indigenous Ranger program
• Funding Indigenous Protected Areas (IPA) program

• Indigenous Languages and Arts (ILA) program (New and Existing)
• United Nations (UN) International Decade of Indigenous Languages 2022-32
• Indigenous Language Dictionaries Project
• National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI)
• Kimberley Aboriginal Language Interpreting
• Legal Interpreting Services
• Cross Border Indigenous Interpreting

• Coalition of Peaks, including First Nations Media Australia and other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and businesses

• Indigenous Digital Inclusion Plan
• Remote Indigenous Telecommunications activities
• Indigenous broadcasting and media activities
• Regional Tech Hub
• Universal Service Guarantee (USG)
• Mobile Black Spot Program
• Regional Connectivity Program
• Northern Australia - Regional Connectivity and Mobile Black Spot Programs – additional funding
• NBN Co's Regional Co-investment Fund
• NBN Co initiative – Connection
• NBN Co Initiatives – Capability
• Improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander servicing in Services Australia
• National Agent and Access Point (NAAP) program in Services Australia
• 2021 Regional Telecommunications Review