Description

This document summarises the Productivity Commission’s latest data update on Closing the Gap and details NSW’s efforts in 2021–22. It sets out the progress of ongoing and new initiatives in NSW and showcases areas where good results are being achieved on both the priority reforms and socio-economic outcome targets.

The report outlines the importance of the NSW partnership between government, the NSW Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations (NSW CAPO) and other Aboriginal partners and the use of this foundational year as an opportunity to begin the process of review. Evaluations of expenditure on existing programs and services have been undertaken and consideration given to how resources are used to achieve the best outcomes. This includes the NSW government committing to more Aboriginal programs and services being run through Aboriginal community-controlled organisations (ACCOs).

This year Aboriginal people were actively involved in meaningful consultations on some of the many decisions that affect their lives. True partnerships saw locally made decisions on matters like improving transport, what great health care should look like and how to keep families together in community. Aboriginal people had real input into strategic plans for improving education, training and Aboriginal employment outcomes; addressing the burden of fines; improving water safety; and helping ACCOs grow their businesses.