The Coalition of nearly forty Peak Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander organisations will meet face-to-face in Adelaide today to discuss possible
new targets and a new approach on Closing the Gap.

This is the first time that Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander representatives have come together in this way to talk
about Closing the Gap targets that is not through government facilitated
discussions.

We are pleased to be
meeting in Adelaide where we have already started to see a significant change
to the way the South Australian Government is working with Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander community controlled organisations as part of the
Partnership Agreement on Closing the Gap. A strengthened South Australian
Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations Network met recently to work with
the South Australian Government and the Coalition of Peaks on Closing the Gap.

Quotes to
attribute to Coalition of Peaks Convener and NACCHO Chief Executive Officer Ms
Patricia Turner AM.

• “This is the first
  time Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled organisations
  have had an equal voice at the table on Closing the Gap so I expect that the
  conversation will shift to what we believe is needed to achieve it.”
• “Given our lived
  experience and the work we do within our own communities, we are hopeful that
  our positions will continue to be received and considered by governments with
  open minds.”
• “The Peaks have been hard at work reviewing
  the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) draft targets on Closing the Gap
  from December 2018, discussing changes and additional targets that may be
  needed. It will be important that we also get an opportunity to talk this
  through with our communities.”
• “For the Peaks, the most important part of
  Closing the Gap going forward is not the targets but reviewing how we go about
  achieving them. The Peaks believe that the strengthening of the Aboriginal and
  Torres Strait Islander community controlled sector to deliver Closing the Gap
  services and sharing decision making is very important in this regard.”
• “We firmly believe that changing the way
  governments work so that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across
  Australia have shared decision-making on Closing the Gap will result in
  positive outcomes across the board.”

About the Coalition of Peaks

The Coalition of Peaks is a
representative body comprised of around forty Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander peaks organisations that have come together to have their collective
voice heard on issues that affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Since
the Closing the Gap framework and targets were first implemented in 2008, we
have been calling on government to recognise the expertise that exist in
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations.

In an historic agreement, the Coalition
of Peaks has formed a Joint Partnership with the Council of Australian
Governments (COAG) in order to collaborate on the Closing the Gap Refresh
process. This is the first time that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
voices have not only been invited to the table, but have also been empowered
with shared decision-making responsibilities.

The
Partnership Agreement has now been signed by the Prime Minister. The Coalition
of Peaks are beginning to work with the Joint Partnership to affect meaningful
change for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

More information on the Coalition
of Peaks: www.naccho.org.au/programmes/coalition-of-peaks/

For media enquiries or for interviews contact Kari Browne on kari@fiftyacres.com or +61 455 415 552