The ACT Government has released the Territory’s first-ever Closing the Gap Implementation Plan under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
Unveiled by the Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, Rachel Stephen-Smith, the Plan reflects the Territory’s commitment to working in partnership with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community to deliver positive life outcomes for First Nations peoples.
“We are in a strong position to deliver on the priorities identified in the National Agreement due to our partnership with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body and the strength of the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Agreement 2019-2028,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
“The first Implementation Plan is closely aligned with work that is already being progressed under the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Agreement and in response to key reports such as the Our Booris, Our Way review into over-representation in the child and youth protection system,” she said.
“It includes a number of targets that are more ambitious than the national target – including reducing the rate of incarceration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to achieve parity with the non-Indigenous incarceration rate by 2031.”
The Minister said the Plan also provided practical examples of the work underway against Priority Reforms.
“For example, the ACT Government has reiterated its commitment to reducing experiences of racism and discrimination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples working in the ACT Public Service or engaging with our services,” she said.
Ms Stephen-Smith said a public service framework for addressing systemic racism was being developed, which would identify and address systemic racism in processes and systems to ensure cultural safety.
The Territory’s 30-page Plan can be accessed on the Community Services Directorate’s website at this PS News link.
