Common use of Improving mainstream institutions Clause in Contracts

Improving mainstream institutions. Governments, their organisations and their institutions are accountable for Closing the Gap and are culturally safe and responsive to the needs of Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Strait Islander people, including through the services they fund. Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Islander-led data: Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Strait Islander people have access to, and the capability to use, locally-relevant data and information to set and monitor the implementation of efforts to close the gap, their priorities and drive their own development. A new approach This Agreement is a commitment from all Parties to set out a future where policy making that impacts on the lives of Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Islander people is done in full and genuine partnership. The Parties will listen to the voices and aspirations of Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Strait Islander people and change the way we work in response. Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Islander people have been saying for a long time that: they need to have a much greater say in how programs and services are delivered to their people, in their own places and on their own country community-controlled organisations deliver the best services and outcomes for Closing the Gap government agencies and institutions need to address systemic, daily racism, and promote cultural safety and transfer power and resources to communities they need to have access to the same information and data as governments to drive their development. Prioritising Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Strait Islander cultures The Parties acknowledge that strong Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Islander cultures are fundamental to improved life outcomes for Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Strait Islander people. The Parties agree to implement all activities under this Agreement in a way that takes full account of, promotes, and does not diminish in any way, the cultures of Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Islander people. This commitment is part of the new way of working that Parties have agreed to under this Agreement. The Parties agree to demonstrate this commitment through their Implementation Plans. This Agreement supports the prioritisation of Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Strait Islander cultures through the Priority Reforms outlined in Part 6 of this Agreement. New Closing the Gap outcome areas, targets and indicators have also been included in this Agreement that support the cultural wellbeing of Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Islander people in areas of languages; cultural practices; land and waters; and access to culturally relevant communications. Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Islander media, in particular community-controlled media, have a central role in communicating activities under this Agreement to allow culturally relevant messages to be developed and shared by Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Strait Islander organisations and communities for Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Islander people. Priority Reform areas for joint national action The Parties agree to four Priority Reforms that change the way governments work to accelerate improvements in the lives of Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Strait Islander people. The Priority Reforms have arisen from the Partnership between Governments and the Coalition of Peaks; they respond to the voices and aspirations of Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Islander people; and were overwhelmingly supported during the formal engagements on this Agreement in 2019. The Parties commit to tangible actions to give effect to the Priority Reforms. Priority Reform One – Formal partnerships and shared decision‑making The Parties commit to building and strengthening structures that empower Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Strait Islander people to share decision-making authority with governments to accelerate policy and place-based progress against Closing the Gap. Priority Reform One seeks to apply the principles in the historic and unprecedented Partnership Agreement to more partnership arrangements between Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Islander people and governments at all levels. This was strongly supported by the 2019 engagements. Under this Agreement, there are two forms of partnerships – “policy partnerships” and “place-based partnerships”. Policy partnerships are partnerships created for the purpose of working on discrete policy areas, such as education, health or housing. Place-based partnerships are partnerships based on a specific region, between government and Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Islander representatives, and others by agreement, from those specific areas. The purpose of formal policy partnerships and place-based partnerships is to: drive Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Strait Islander community-led outcomes on Closing the Gap enable Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Islander representatives, communities and organisations to negotiate and implement agreements with governments to implement all Priority Reforms and policy specific and place-based strategies to support Closing the Gap support additional community-led development initiatives bring together all government parties, together with Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Strait Islander people, organisations and communities to the collective task of Closing the Gap. Strong partnership elements The Parties agree that strong partnerships include the following partnership elements: Partnerships are accountable and representative and are between: Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Islander people, where participation in decision-making is done by Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Strait Islander people appointed by Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Islander people in a transparent way, based on their own structures and where they are accountable to their own organisations and communities up to three levels of government, where government representatives have negotiating and decision‑making authority relevant to the partnership context other parties as agreed by the Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Strait Islander representatives and governments. A formal agreement in place, that is signed by all parties and: defines who the parties are, what their roles are, what the purpose and objectives of the partnership are, what is in scope of shared decision-making, and what are the reporting arrangements, timeframes, and monitoring, review and dispute mechanisms is structured in a way that allows Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Islander parties to agree the agenda for the discussions that lead to any decisions is made public and easily accessible is protected in state, territory and national legislation where appropriate. Decision-making is shared between government and Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Strait Islander people. Shared decision-making is: by consensus, where the voices of Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Islander parties hold as much weight as the governments transparent, where matters for decision are in terms that are easily understood by all parties and where there is enough information and time to understand the implications of the decision where Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Strait Islander representatives can speak without fear of reprisals or repercussions where a wide variety of groups of Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Islander people, including women, young people, elders, and Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Islander people with a disability can have their voice heard where self-determination is supported, and Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Strait Islander lived experience is understood and respected where relevant funding for programs and services align with jointly agreed community priorities, noting governments retain responsibility for funding decisions where partnership parties have access to the same data and information, in an easily accessible format, on which any decisions are made. The Parties recognise that adequate funding is needed to support Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Islander parties to be partners with governments in formal partnerships. This includes agreed funding for Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Strait Islander parties to: engage independent policy advice meet independently of governments to determine their own policy positions support strengthened governance between and across Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Islander organisations and parties engage with and seek advice from Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Strait Islander people from all relevant groups within affected communities, including but not limited to Elders, Traditional Owners and Native Title Holders. Jurisdictional actions The Parties acknowledge shared decision-making structures already exist across the country, and that many of these have been developed by Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Islander people. Actions under this Priority Reform are not intended to replace these arrangements, but rather build on these successes, and expand and strengthen shared decision-making arrangements. Government Parties commit to establishing policy and place-based partnerships within jurisdictions and which respond to local priorities. These partnerships will include the partnership elements outlined in the section above, unless Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Strait Islander people, communities and organisations choose not to pursue elements. Government Parties will review their partnership arrangements to assess how they meet the partnership elements at Clauses 32 and 33: By 2022, Government Parties will undertake a stocktake of partnership arrangements already in place within their own jurisdictions and provide a report to the Joint Council. By 2023, Government Parties will review and strengthen existing partnerships to meet the strong partnership elements, unless Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Islander members of the partnership do not wish to include these elements. Government Parties will provide a report on this review, including the number of partnerships, changes made to existing partnerships, and which strong partnership elements are met and unmet for all partnerships. The report from Government Parties will be considered by the Joint Council. Government Parties will include in their annual reports (Clauses 118 and 119) information on partnerships, including the number of partnerships, those that have been reviewed, for each partnership which strong partnership elements are met and unmet, and what has been achieved through the partnerships. Partnership actions By 2022, the Joint Council will establish a joined up approach to five policy priority areas, between the Commonwealth, states and territories and Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Strait Islander representatives. These will identify opportunities to work more effectively across governments, reduce gaps and duplication, and improve outcomes under Closing the Gap. These areas respond to the engagements and are: justice (adult and youth incarceration) social and emotional wellbeing (mental health) housing early childhood care and development Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Islander languages. By 2024, six new place-based partnerships will be established across Australia under Jurisdictional Implementation Plans. These place-based partnerships will be between the Commonwealth, relevant states or territories, local government and agreed communities. They will be consistent with the agreed partnership elements and build on existing place based approaches. Locations will be considered by Joint Council within 12 months of the commencement of this Agreement. Partnership actions do not limit opportunities for pursuing joined up effort by the Parties in other policy areas and places. In 2025, the Parties to the Agreement will meet and consider progress on Priority Reform One and make additional partnership actions if needed and the Agreement will be updated accordingly. Priority Reform Two – Building the community-controlled sector The Parties commit to building formal Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Strait Islander community-controlled sectors to deliver services to support Closing the Gap. The Parties acknowledge that Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Islander community-controlled services are better for Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Strait Islander people, achieve better results, employ more Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Islander people and are often preferred over mainstream services. Priority Reform Two received the strongest support in the 2019 engagements. ‘A community-controlled organisation implicitly recognises the strength, the expertise and the right to self-determination by Indigenous communities’ Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Strait Islander community control is an act of self-determination. Under this Agreement, an Aboriginal and/or ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Islander Community-Controlled Organisation delivers services, including land and resource management, that builds the strength and empowerment of Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Strait Islander communities and people and is: incorporated under relevant legislation and not-for-profit controlled and operated by Aboriginal and/or ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Islander people connected to the community, or communities, in which they deliver the services governed by a majority Aboriginal and/or ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Strait Islander governing body. Strong community-controlled sector elements The Parties agree that elements of a strong sector are where: there is sustained capacity building and investment in Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Islander community-controlled organisations which deliver certain services and address issues through a set of clearly defined standards or requirements, such as an agreed model of care there is a dedicated and identified Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Strait Islander workforce (that complements a range of other professions and expertise) and where people working in community-controlled sectors have wage parity based on workforce modelling commensurate with need Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Islander community-controlled organisations which deliver common services are supported by a Peak Body, governed by a majority Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Strait Islander Board, which has strong governance and policy development and influencing capacity Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Islander community-controlled organisations which deliver common services have a dedicated, reliable and consistent funding model designed to suit the types of services required by communities, responsive to the needs of those receiving the services, and is developed in consultation with the relevant Peak body. Jurisdictional actions Government Parties commit to building strong Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Strait Islander community-controlled sectors and organisations in line with the strong sector elements at Clause 45 to deliver Closing the Gap services and programs, in partnership with Aboriginal and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Islander representatives. Government Parties will include in their Jurisdictional annual reports information on action taken to strengthen the community-controlled sector based on the elements of a strong sector, as outlined in Clauses 118 and 119. Partnership actions The Parties agree that building strong community-controlled sectors to deliver Closing the Gap services and programs requires national effort and joined up delivery against all sector elements in agreed priority areas. The Parties agree to identify sectors for joint national strengthening effort every three years through Sector Strengthening Plans which will identify actions against the strong sector elements at Clause 45. The initial sectors are: Early childhood care and development Housing Health