Premier & Cabinet

Type:
Premier's Memorandum
Identifier:
M2006-10
Status:
Archived

M2006-10 Improving Outcomes for Aboriginal People and their Communities

Description

should be read in conjunction with M2006-09 Chief Executive Officer Performance Agreements

Detailed Outline

This Memorandum is to both affirm the NSW Government¡¦s commitment to Aboriginal people and their communities and, in particular, its commitment to Two Ways Together (the NSW Government¡¦s ten year Aboriginal Affairs Plan 2003-2012, Two Ways Together) and bring to the attention of Ministers, Chief Executive Officers and all senior officials of some new developments in Aboriginal Affairs that will have an significant impact on public sector service delivery across New South Wales.

CEO Performance Agreements
A Memorandum dealing with the issue of Chief Executive Officer Performance Agreements is being reissued concurrent with this Memorandum (Memorandum No. 2006- 09 refers).

In that Memorandum it is made clear that all Chief Executive Officers are responsible for the delivery of Aboriginal Affairs Results (including improved Aboriginal employment outcomes) as part of their agency¡¦s results and service performance. A copy of the Aboriginal Affairs results and indicators, including Achievement of Two Ways Together, for all Chief Executive Officers Performance Agreements are attached to Memorandum No. 2006-09.

Chief Executive Officers are required to report back in writing to the CEO Group on Aboriginal Affairs detailing the specific and relevant targets that have been included in their performance agreements. The CEO Group on Aboriginal Affairs can be contacted through the Secretariat at Level 13, 280 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills, 2010.

New Bilateral Agreement
In December 2005, the Australian and NSW Governments agreed to a new Bilateral Agreement called the Overarching Agreement on Aboriginal Affairs between the Commonwealth of Australia and the State of New South Wales 2005-2010. The Bilateral Agreement establishes the foundation through which the Governments will work together by:

  • promoting joint planning;
  • improving and streamlining service delivery to Aboriginal people, their families and communities; and
  • establishing a strategic approach for joint and innovative action by the Governments in partnership with communities.

The Bilateral Agreement builds upon and complements existing arrangements and bilateral agreements. Most importantly, it maintains the NSW Government¡¦s Aboriginal Affairs Plan, Two Ways Together, as the foundation upon which the Governments will work together.

One of the benefits of the Agreement is to bring the Australian Government into the strategic planning framework established under Two Ways Together in NSW at State and regional levels. Australian Government representation in State and regional planning discussions will assist in reducing Federal-State duplication and enable the Governments to work together in identifying and addressing gaps in service delivery.

Operational Guidelines for Shared Responsibility Agreements
Shared Responsibility Agreements (SRAs) are voluntary written agreements between the Commonwealth and/or State Governments and Aboriginal communities around particular projects or activities which communities have identified as a priority. SRAs set out the outcomes to be achieved, and the agreed roles and responsibilities of the Governments and Aboriginal communities involved in the activity. The primary objective of SRAs is to deliver benefits to Aboriginal communities.

SRAs were first introduced to NSW in 2003 through the Council of Australian Governments¡¦ trial in the Murdi Paaki region of western NSW, which explored new ways of delivering services to Aboriginal people.

Under the Bilateral Agreement, the NSW Government has the discretion to participate in or initiate SRAs on a case by case basis. NSW will only be party to SRAs that deliver tangible positive outcomes for the Aboriginal communities involved.

Operational Guidelines have been developed to assist NSW Government officials who may be involved in negotiating a SRA. The Guidelines explain the conditions under which the State will enter into an SRA, the procedure State officers must follow to obtain approval for their agency¡¦s participation in a SRA, the roles and responsibilities of each party, and appropriate monitoring and reporting arrangements.

Both the Bilateral Agreement and the SRA Operational Guidelines are available at www.daa.nsw.gov.au/policies.

The Guidelines include a list of officers in the Department of Aboriginal Affairs available to assist with developing and negotiating SRAs.

Pooled Funding
As part of the process of improving outcomes for Aboriginal people the NSW Government is exploring better ways of delivering services through improved collaboration between agencies. To this end, in February 2006 the CEO Group on Aboriginal Affairs agreed to establish a Working Party, chaired by Premier¡¦s Department, to develop options for pooled funding arrangements and how resource sharing arrangements might work. The Working Party will report back to the CEO Group on Aboriginal Affairs by September 2006.

The initial investigation around pooling of funds and sharing of resources will focus on the human services cluster and the culture and heritage cluster which have been established under Two Ways Together.

Engaging with Aboriginal Communities
Two Ways Together introduced a new era of partnership building between the NSW Government and Aboriginal communities to improve the well-being of Aboriginal people. To support effective partnerships with Aboriginal communities the Department of Aboriginal Affairs (DAA) is developing practical tools to assist agencies in working with Aboriginal communities. DAA is currently trialling inter-agency community engagement days, and developing communication protocols. An electronic calendar will shortly be released to assist agencies to coordinate community forums and streamline consultation activities.

NAIDOC Week
NAIDOC celebrates the survival of Indigenous culture and the Indigenous contribution to modern Australia. NAIDOC Week celebrations this year are between 2 to 9 July. NAIDOC Week is an important opportunity for the NSW Government to promote key messages which build on the many outstanding Aboriginal achievements and endeavours and which further strengthen the Aboriginal community.

Consistent with efforts to improve inter-agency collaboration and the approach to pooled funding outlined above, I would therefore ask that all NSW Government agencies and instrumentalities work together in future years at a local and regional level to deliver a whole of Government response to supporting NAIDOC week. The DAA will coordinate these efforts.

Improving Aboriginal Employment Outcomes
The NSW Government is committed to improving employment outcomes for Aboriginal people in the private and not-for-profit sectors through the development of Aboriginal Employment compacts. To this end Government will be working with key Aboriginal organisation, local governments, businesses and industry groups to overcome the barriers restricting Aboriginal people from accessing employment opportunities and directly assist the employment of Aboriginal people locally.

Concurrently the NSW Government will focus on improved public sector employment outcomes through the implementation of a new Aboriginal Employment Strategy, Making it our Business.

These initiatives will build on work already done by the NSW Premier¡¦s Department and other agencies, and will require the close cooperation of all Government agencies.


Morris Iemma MP
Premier


Issued : Strategic Projects Division
Date: 30 June 2006

This memorandum has not superseded any other Memorandum/Circular but should be read in conjunction with Memorandum No. 2006-09 Chief Executive Officer Performance Agreements


 

Overview

Compliance

Not Mandatory

AR Details

Date Issued
Oct 28, 2006
Review Date
Oct 28, 2016
Replaces
Replaced By

Contacts

Contact
Contact us
Phone
02 9228 5555
Publishing Entity
Department of Premier and Cabinet
Issuing Entity
Premier