A new partnership agreement between the ACT Government and Canberra’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community has been signed.
The agreement binds both the Government and community to work together to set the long-term direction of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs.
It outlines how the Government, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and non-Government partners are to work together to meet the social, cultural and economic needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Agreement 2019-2028 was signed by the Chief Minister, Andrew Barr; Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, Rachel Stephen-Smith; Head of the ACT Public Service, Kathy Leigh and Chair of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body, Katrina Fanning.
Mr Barr said the new agreement reinforced the commitment to self-determination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Canberrans, and to the recognition and response to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in the ACT.
“Over the course of the 10-year agreement we will make significant progress in improving lives and outcomes for the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community,” Mr Barr said.
“This agreement also pays respect to the special place of Australia’s first people in our inclusive community, and commits us to doing more to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the ACT and to celebrate the world’s oldest living cultures.”
Ms Fanning said it was an opportunity for the ACT to lead the nation in closing the gap in life outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and collectively they were committed to this.
“This agreement reflects what our community knows to be true, that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led decision making is the key to closing the gap,” Ms Fanning said.
Artwork for the agreement, Strength in Community (pictured) was commissioned from Canberra artist Leah Brideson and was on display for the first time at the signing event.
The five-page agreement can be accessed at this PS News link.
