The Federation contributes advice and expertise to Victoria’s work towards Closing the Gap: targets to improve life outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, whose success – we believe – is inextricably linked with self-determination.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have long described health and wellbeing from a holistic, relational perspective that understands physical, social, emotional and spiritual wellbeing as inextricably connected to Country and culture. We can’t understand wellbeing without centring Country.
In our Closing the Gap work, the Federation shares the perspectives and priorities of Traditional Owner groups, whose care for and management of Country enables this vital, ongoing, and sustaining connection.
Traditional Owners are central to achieving Closing the Gap outcomes.
We know Closing the Gap can’t happen without Aboriginal control – even the best-intended programs and services won’t deliver the best outcomes if they’re directed by government, on government’s terms. The rights and cultural authority held by Traditional Owner groups are key to unlocking Closing the Gap’s potential.
Ngaweeyan Maar-oo
The Federation is a loud and proud member of Ngaweeyan Maar-oo – a representative forum that works in partnership with the Victorian Government on the design, implementation and oversight of Victoria’s Closing the Gap Implementation Plan.
The Plan outlines the steps Victoria will take to achieve the four priority reforms and 19 targets in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap – an ongoing, living agreement, signed in 2020, which aims to overcome Indigenous inequality and achieve equal life outcomes. Its current targets stretch to 2031.
In Victoria, we focus on gaps in areas as broad as justice, health, children, housing, culture, disability, and more. The Federation is Ngaweeyan Maar-oo’s elected representative for two of these priority areas: land and waters, and economic development and employment. We keep a particularly close eye on action towards these targets, and bring our policy expertise and experience progressing Traditional Owners’ rights and interests to the partnership forum as a whole.
Our role on Ngaweeyan Maar-oo is funded until June 2025.
Aboriginal people know what’s best for ourselves, our families, and communities. Real progress to end inequality won’t come from a patchwork of programs and services – it will come from recognising, resourcing and respecting Aboriginal communities’ inherent right to make our own decisions about our own lives.
The Federation works every day to clear the path for Aboriginal self-determination, and our work in Closing the Gap is no exception. Good outcomes require Aboriginal control.
What we’re working on
- Currently: getting ready to provide detailed feedback on a draft Implementation Plan, which Ngaweeyan Maar-oo members will receive in late February.
- Up next: firing up our role as economic development and employment sector representative as we start a Traditional Owner Corporation workforce development strategy.
Be involved
Jill Webb is the Federation’s best contact for our Ngaweeyan Maar-oo work and Closing the Gap in general – find her at [email protected].
