$400 MILLION TO EMPOWER ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES & DELIVER OUTCOMES

The NSW Government has announced $401 million in additional funding over four years in the 2022-23 Budget, to prioritise Closing the Gap and other projects that improve outcomes for Aboriginal people across the state.

Member for Manly James Griffin MP welcomed the investment into Aboriginal communities and outcomes from the NSW Government.

“The NSW Government is committed to improving outcomes for Aboriginal people throughout NSW by empowering them and enabling them to invest in projects that reflect their priorities,” Mr Griffin said.

“This record investment will go a long way towards NSW meeting its targets under the National Closing the Gap agreement and see meaningful change in the lives of Aboriginal children, families and communities.”

The NSW Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations (NSW CAPO) will lead the innovative partnership.

The package also includes a $30 million ‘Community and Place Grants Program’, offering grants of up to $250,000 to Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) to deliver practical, immediate, and locally-focused activities targeting Closing the Gap outcomes.

This package includes a strong focus on the below outcomes:

• investing in Aboriginal economic empowerment
• supporting Aboriginal children and young people to thrive
• delivering health and wellbeing in Aboriginal communities
• improving the justice system
• investing in appropriate Aboriginal housing and infrastructure, and improving land rights for Aboriginal communities
• supporting Aboriginal languages and culture, and respecting and acknowledging the past as the cornerstone to a diverse NSW
• delivering improved data and governance in partnership with Aboriginal people

Councillor Charles Lynch, NSW Aboriginal Land Council, co-chair of the NSW Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations welcomed this funding by the NSW Government.

“This is a very significant moment for Aboriginal people and communities, and for the first time we are seeing a government that is genuinely investing in the needs of Aboriginal people to address the disparities under Closing the Gap,” Mr Lynch said.

“This funding will not only deliver impact in Aboriginal communities, but also recognises how government needs to work with us from now and into the future.”