Indigenous Coordination Centres
Shared Responsibility Agreements
Information for Indigenous communities and organisations
New ways of working
The Australian Government is improving the way services are provided to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities. The new arrangements mean that Indigenous communities are involved in deciding how government programs will meet community needs.
- Coordination - Indigenous Coordination Centres—ICCs—now look after most Australian Government programs for Indigenous people.
- Cutting the red tape - ICCs are working to make government requirements simpler, and bring programs together for the benefit of local Indigenous people.
- All partners contribute - Both governments and Indigenous people need to share responsibility for making real changes.
- Listening to local people - Through ICCs, government is listening to Indigenous people and communities about your concerns and priorities. Talk to your ICC Manager to find out more.
Shared Responsibility Agreements
The Australian Government wants to work with communities through Shared Responsibility Agreements—SRAs.
SRAs are agreements that spell out what all partners—communities, governments, and others—will contribute to help bring about good long-term changes.
SRAs start with ideas from the community on what changes you want to make and how they will be done. They will build towards the kind of future your community wants for your children and grandchildren.
Each SRA will be different, because each community is different.
SRAs will develop over time. As this happens, what government funds are spent on may also change so that communities get the results they need.
Government programs will also become more flexible so they can respond better to community needs and priorities.
SRAs only cover the services available to Indigenous people through special Indigenous programs. SRAs will not affect benefits or services available to all Australians—e.g. benefits administered by Centrelink.
To get started on an SRA, contact your local ICC Manager.
Engaging with the community
How will Indigenous views be represented to government?
And at what level?
The Australian Government is currently consulting on these questions, asking Indigenous people to decide on their own local representative networks. The networks will be different in each area. They may be set up at a number of levels—regions, communities, groups of organisations, clans or families. It depends on what is suitable in any one area, and what local people want. Contact your local ICC for more information.
Organisations to play a role
Indigenous service-delivery organisations will remain important, but they need to be accountable and have a good record of getting results for Indigenous people. As SRAs develop, organisations will need to ensure their services are in line with what communities want. And they will have to show that their services are getting good results.
Program Funding Submissions 2005–06
Funding for organisations in 2005–06 is available through the ICC Submission Kit, launched in February 2005, with applications due on 29 March 2005. Details of the services to be provided and program guidelines can be obtained from ICCs.
The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations has been consulting on future directions for the Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) program. However, few changes are expected for the 2005 06 funding round.