First Nations Media Australia Welcomes Historic Partnership Agreement on Closing the Gap
First Nations Media Australia, as a member of the Coalition of Peaks, has welcomed the signing of an historic Partnership Agreement on Closing the Gap between the Commonwealth Government, State and Territory Governments and the Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peak Bodies.
The Coalition of Peaks is made up of forty Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled organisations that have come together to negotiate with governments and be signatories to the Partnership Agreement.
This Agreement means that for the first time Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,
through their peak body representatives, will share decision making with governments on Closing the Gap.
First Nations Media Australia along with other Peak Organisations have been calling for a greater role with governments on efforts to close the unacceptable gaps in life outcomes within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
"We believe that shared decision making between governments and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled
representatives in the design, implementation and monitoring of Closing the Gap is essential. Our media provides two-way communication on Closing the Gap activities and significantly contributes to closing the digital divide." - Dot West, Chair, First Nations Media Australia.
The Partnership Agreement sets out how governments and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peaks bodies will work together to agree a refreshed national agreement on Closing the Gap, including any new Closing the Gap targets and implementation and monitoring arrangements.
The Partnership Agreement also marks the establishment of a new, Joint Council on Closing the Gap that will be co-chaired by a
Minister and a representative of the Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peak Bodies. The Joint Council will met for the first time in Brisbane yesterday.
A fact sheet detailing the background to the Partnership Agreement is available here.
Interview opportunities are available with members of the Coalition of Peaks. Contact Claire Stuchbery at claire@firstnationsmedia.org.au or 0403 520 765.