Ceduna will today host the first of fourengagement meetings in South Australia on the development of a new national agreementon Closing the Gap.
All four meetings will be led by the Coalitionof Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peaks (Coalition of Peaks), abody comprised of around forty Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communitycontrolled peak organisations that have come together to have their collectivevoice heard on issues that affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The Coalition of Peaks is working with theCouncil of Australian Governments (COAG) to develop a new National Agreement onClosing the Gap for the next ten years. During October, as part of thatprocess, the Coalition of Peaks are leading a series of face-to-faceengagements with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and peoplein every Australian state and territory.
Following today’s engagement in Ceduna, theCoalition of Peaks will hold meetings in Port Augusta on October 18, Mount Gambieron October 23 and Adelaide on October 28.
The ‘HaveYour Say’ survey will be openuntil October 25 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who areunable to attend face to face meetings or for those who want to have a furthersay.
Lead Convener of the South AustralianAboriginal Community Controlled Organisations Network (SAACCON), Ruth Millersaid that the engagement process underway helps place Aboriginal and TorresStrait Islander communities at the centre of policy and decision making onthose issues that affect them.
“We are pleased to kick off our face-to-faceengagements in Ceduna today and look forward to the other regional andmetropolitan meetings throughout the rest of October,” Miller said.
“TheCoalition of Peaks wants to ensure that we give Aboriginal and Torres StraitIslander peoples a genuine say in developing the new Closing the Gap framework.
“It is critical that governments hear the voiceof Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and that it is those voicesthat will inform the new National Agreement for Closing the Gap.
“By deeply listening to the expertise and livedexperience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and with shareddecision-making power, we may get a Closing the Gap agreement that will live upto its name.”
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