‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people know what works best for us.

We need to make sure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices are reflected and expertise is recognised in every way at every step on efforts to close the gap in life outcomes between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians.’

‘The Coalition of Peaks is leading the face to face discussions, not governments.

The Peaks are asking Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to tell us what should be included in a new Closing the Gap agreement and we will take this to the negotiating table.’

Acting Lead Convener of the Coalition of Peaks and Chairperson of the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body, Katrina Fanning, said we must ensure the community’s voice is truly heard and understood.

NACCHO will be updating all states and territories meeting locations and times each Tuesday ( NACCHO Save a date ) and Friday ( NACCHO Good News  )

The Coalition of Peaks are leading face to face meetings with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, communities and organisations on Closing the Gap during the month of October.

The meetings provide an opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in each state and territory to tell the Coalition of Peaks and governments what changes are needed to improve their lives.

The Coalition of Peaks is working with the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) to develop a new National Agreement on Closing the Gap for the next ten years and wants to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the country can have a say about what should be included in it.

The Coalition of Peaks is made up of around forty Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peak organisations who have come together to negotiate a new Closing the Gap agreement with governments.

The Peaks are committed to representing the views of their membership and the communities who elected them in negotiations with government.

The face to face discussions are part of comprehensive set of engagements which also includes an online survey and Peak consultations with its own membership.

The online survey is open until 25 October 2019.

A report on the engagements will be prepared by the Coalition of Peaks, to be provided to governments and made public.

The report will inform the finalisation the new National Agreement between the Coalition of Peaks and COAG.

October Engagement Meetings:

South Australia 2 October – Adelaide 15 October – Ceduna 18 October – Port Augusta 23 October – Mount Gambier   Tasmania 11 October – Launceston   Western Australia 14 October – Broome 17 October – Geraldton 21 October – Kalgoorlie 23 October – Port Headland 28 October – Perth 30 October – Narrogin   Australian Capital Territory 17 October – Canberra 28 October – Canberra

Victoria 15 October – Melbourne 16 October – Bendigo 17 October – Morwell See update below for details New South Wales 21 October – Sydney  All NSW Regional see below Northern Territory 4 October – Katherine 11 October – Yirrkala 30 October – Darwin   National 23 and 24 October – Canberra

Note: Each jurisdiction has structured the events differently, some opting for fewer large events and some opting for a larger number of smaller events.

Dates and locations for Queensland will be finalised soon.

For more information on The Coalition of Peaks, The Joint Council, The Partnership Agreement and to sign up for our mailing list, go to: https://www.naccho.org.au/ programmes/coalition-of-peaks/

VIC Update

There will be three meetings held across Victoria, details are below.

Website RSVP 

City	Date	Venue	Time
Bendigo	Monday 14 October	Comfort Inn Julie Anna, 268/276 Napier Street	12PM – 4PM
Melbourne	Tuesday 15 October	Mantra Bell City, 215 Bell Street, Preston	12PM – 4PM
Morwell	Thursday 17 October	Gathering Place, 99 Buckley Street	12PM – 4PM

NSW Update 

The NSW Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations (CAPO) of which NSW Aboriginal Land Council is a member, are leading the Closing the Gap engagements across the state.

28 consultations will be taking place during the month of October and early November. The consultations are an opportunity for communities to have their say on Closing the Gap.

The 2019 Closing the Gap consultation will see a new way of doing business, with a focus on community consultations. NSW is embarking on the largest number of membership consultations, more than any other state or territory, with an emphasis on hearing your views about what is needed to make the lives of Aboriginal people better.

Your voices will formulate the NSW submission to the new National Agreement. By talking to Aboriginal people, communities and organisations, CAPO can form a consensus on priority areas from NSW when finalising the new National Agreement on Closing the Gap with governments.

The discussion booklet: ‘A new way of doing business’ provides background information on Closing the Gap and sets out what will be discussed at the consultations.

The consultations are being supported by the NSW Government.

Come along and join in the conversation. The dates and locations are:

Route 1
Albury Monday 14th Oct
Deniliquin Tuesday 15th Oct
Balranald Wednesday 16th Oct
Griffith Thursday 17th Oct

Route 2
Wagga Wagga Tuesday 15th Oct
Young Wednesday 16th Oct
Queanbeyan Thursday 17th Oct
Batemans Bay Friday 18th Oct

Route 3
Dubbo Tuesday 22nd Oct
Condobolin Wednesday 23rd Oct
Cobar Thursday 24th Oct
Bourke Friday 25th Oct

Route 4
Newcastle Tuesday 22nd Oct
Central Coast Wednesday 23rd Oct
Muswellbrook Thursday 24th Oct
Tamworth Friday 25th Oct

Route 5
Broken Hill Tuesday 29th Oct
Wilcannia Wednesday 30th Oct
Menindee Thursday 31st Oct
Dareton Friday 1st Nov

Route 6
Lismore Monday 28th Oct
Coffs Harbour Tuesday 29th Oct
Kempsey Wednesday 30th Oct

Route 7
Redfern Monday 4th Nov
Mount Druitt Tuesday 5th Nov
Bathurst Thursday 7th Nov

Route 8
Moree Tuesday 5th Nov
Walgett Wednesday 6th Nov

To register your attendance at Routes 1 and 2, please do so via Eventbrite:

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/nsw-coalition-of-aboriginal-peak-organisations-16575398239.

Routes 3 to 8 will follow shortly.

Consultations will run from 11am – 3pm with lunch provided.

If you are unable to make the consultations, you can still have your say through an online survey. The survey closes on 25 October, 5pm.

For more information on the Closing the Gap consultations: https://www.aecg.nsw.edu.au/close-the-gap/

NSW Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations (CAPO)

NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC)
NSW/ACT Aboriginal Legal Services (ALS)
Link Up (NSW) Aboriginal Corporation (Link-Up)
NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (NSW AECG)
NSW Child, Family and Community Peak Aboriginal Corporation (AbSec)
First Peoples Disability Network (FPDN)

NSW CAPO is co-chaired by the NSW Aboriginal Land Council and the NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group. NSW CAPO member organisations are non-government Aboriginal peak bodies with boards that are elected by Aboriginal communities and/or organisations which are accountable to their membership.