Partnerships

The Department of Indigenous Affairs works in partnerships with Indigenous people and all levels of Government to improve service delivery and facilitates the development of policy and programs which deliver sustainable economic, environmental and social benefits to Indigenous communities.

Our key business partners are:

• State Government agencies;
• Commonwealth Government;
• Local governments;
• Aboriginal organisations and communities;
• Industry, business and industry bodies;
• Native Title representative bodies;
• Tertiary and other educational bodies; and
• Non-government and voluntary organisations.

Government Partnerships: 

• Bilateral Agreement
• Indigenous Affairs Advisory Committee
• Council of Australian Governments

Committees:

• Ministerial Council for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs
• Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee
• Aboriginal Lands Trust

Regional Partnership Agreements

(RPAs)

Regional Partnership Agreements are negotiated to coordinate Government services and deliver initiatives across several communities in a region. RPAs may also involve industry and non-government organisations.

RPAs are a means of eliminating overlaps or gaps and promoting collaborative effort to meet identified regional needs and priorities. They also seek to build communities’ capacity to control their own affairs, negotiate with Government, and have a real say in their region’s future.

RPAs may include Shared Responsibility Agreements with local communities or groups that support the objectives of the RPA.

RPAs do not affect Aboriginal people’s access to benefits or services available to all Australians.

In Western Australia, three Regional Partnership Agreements have been signed for the Ngaanyatjarra Council, East Kimberley and Port Hedland. Discussions have commenced in other regions to develop RPAs, including in the Murchison-Gascoyne regarding employment and training opportunities and development.

Copies of these agreements can be obtained here.

Aboriginal Justice Agreements

Jurisdictions around Australia have developed Aboriginal Justice Agreements, policies and associated programs to improve the experiences of Indigenous Australians in contact with the criminal justice system.

These policies promote both crime prevention and the reduction of formal contact with the justice system.

Diversionary schemes have been established, including family conferencing, victim-offender mediation and circle sentencing. These schemes operate at the pre-arrest, prosecution or sentencing phase of the process, and attempt to either wholly divert formal justice system contact or reduce the severity and length of contact.

Further information is available from the Department of the Attorney General.