Coalition of Peaks talking about Closing Gap today in Sydney today

The Coalition of Peaks will host a meeting in Sydney today on the development of a new National Agreement on Closing theGap. The meeting is an opportunityfor Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to tell the Coalition of Peaksand governments what changes are needed to improve their lives.

New South Wales Coalition of Peak Organisations(NSWCAPO) Co-Chair, Cindy Berwick said we must ensure Aboriginal and TorresStrait Islander people in New South Wales know a new agreement is beingnegotiated on Closing the Gap. These meetings provide an opportunity for peoplein New South Wales to have their voices truly heard and understood on thisimportant matter.

“Aboriginaland Torres Strait Islander people know what works best for us. Closing the gapin life outcomes between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and otherAustralians can only be achieved if our voices are at the centre of decisionmaking and reflected in policy,” Berwick said.

“This time the Coalition of Peaks has theopportunity to represent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at thenegotiating table with governments, so we want to ensure that we engagecommunities around Australia in the process.

“The Coalition of Peaks will be leadingface-to-face meetings across every state and territory. We are looking forwardto hearing what Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have to say at theengagement in Sydney today.”

NSWCAPO has commenced a series of meetings withAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across New South Wales. The engagements will continue until the endof October.

The face-to-face discussions are part of a comprehensive set of engagements, which also include Peak consultations with its own membership and an online survey, open until 8 November.

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