Indigenous

Aboriginal Affairs Taskforce

The Aboriginal Affairs Taskforce facilitates a whole-of-government, coordinated and focussed approach to addressing Aboriginal Affairs in Victoria.

The Taskforce is focused on reducing inequalities experienced by Indigenous Victorians – especially those relating to early childhood, education, economic development, family violence & justice, land justice, Indigenous capacity, and employment. Participation in the civic, social and cultural life of the Victorian community is key to improved outcomes.

The challenge requires generational change and working in partnership with Indigenous communities, the Commonwealth and Local Governments to achieve this.

The Taskforce supports the Secretaries' Group on Aboriginal Affairs (PDF 159 kb) or (Word 25 kb).

Victoria is a party to the Council of Australian Governments (COAG), National Indigenous Reform Agreement (NIRA) which commits all governments to -

Close the gap in life expectancy within a generation.
Halve the gap in mortality rates for Indigenous children under five within a decade.
Halve the gap in employment outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians within a decade.
Halve the gap for Indigenous students in reading, writing and numeracy within a decade.
Ensure all four year olds, including in remote communities, have access to early childhood education within five years.
Halve the gap for Indigenous students in Year 12 attainment or equivalent attainment rates by 2020.

The Victorian Indigenous Affairs Framework (VIAF) sets out the strategic priority areas for action which are aligned with the COAG goals. These focus on long term and progressive effort to improve the health and quality of life of Indigenous Victorians. The VIAF recognises that change requires joined up and strategic action across government that supports people across their whole lives.

Indigenous Affairs Report 2009-10 released

The Indigenous Affairs Report 2009-10 was released on 1 June 2011. In the foreword to the report, the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs sets out the Victorian Government’s intentions in regards to Indigenous affairs. The release of the report demonstrates the government’s commitment to closing the gaps between Indigenous and non Indigenous Victorians and to transparent communication of progress against this aim.

The report covers progress against indicators under the current Victorian Indigenous Affairs Framework. Indicators fall under six Strategic Areas for Action, which are currently:

Improve maternal and early childhood health and development
Improve education outcomes
Improve economic development, settle native title claims and address land access issues
Improve health and wellbeing
Build Indigenous capacity
Prevent family violence and improve justice outcomes.

The report indicates that there has been a steady increase in the participation of Indigenous Victorians in education, particularly pre-school, primary school and secondary school education. The Victorian Government recently announced that the Victorian Indigenous Affairs Framework will be reviewed to strengthen the framework and address shortfalls and improve outcomes. The outcomes of the review will be reflected in future Indigenous Affairs reports.

Victorian Government Indigenous Affairs Report 2009-10 (Word 1.0 MB)
Victorian Government Indigenous Affairs Report 2009-10 Part 1 (PDF 1.8 MB)
Victorian Government Indigenous Affairs Report 2009-10 Part 2 (PDF 1.5 MB)
Victorian Government Indigenous Affairs Report 2009-10 Part 3 (PDF 1.6 MB)

Hard copies of the report can be requested by emailing aboriginal.affairs@dpcd.vic.gov.au Previous Indigenous Affairs Reports can be viewed on the Publications page.

Aboriginal Inclusion Framework

The Aboriginal Inclusion Framework is an initiative of the Secretaries’ Group on Aboriginal Affairs. It was developed after extensive consultation with Aboriginal communities.

Acknowledgment and respect of Aboriginal culture, values and practices is at the heart of successful engagement with Aboriginal people. The Framework outlines the objective to provide all Victorian Government policy makers, program managers and service providers with a structure for reviewing their practice and reforming the way they engage with and address the needs of Aboriginal people in Victoria. This is fundamental to supporting the Government’s work to delver better outcomes for Aboriginal Victorians.

Read the Aboriginal Inclusion Framework (PDF 796 Kb) or (Word 130 Kb)

Read the Aboriginal Inclusion Framework Matrix (PDF 116 Kb) or (Word 98 Kb)

Read the Aboriginal Inclusion Framework Second Phase Report (PDF 1.78 MB) or (Word 853 Kb)

Victorian Aboriginal Economic Development Group Report

The Victorian Aboriginal Economic Development Group Report reccommendations give priority to -

Creating real pathways from school to further education, training or work.
Preparation for work, finding a job and support in the workplace.
Growing Indigenous businesses, particularly in tourism.
Building wealth from the land.
Creating leadership skills and support from mentors.

The Group was a mix of 13 high-profile members of the Aboriginal, not-for-profit and business communities that was formed in 2008 to make recommendations on ways to close the economic gap for Aboriginal Victorians.

Read the Victorian Aboriginal Economic Development Group's report, Moonda Wurrin Gree – Pathways to a Better Economic Future Part 1 (PDF 1444 kb) and Part 2 (PDF 1738 kb) or (Word 379 kb).

Download the Moonda Wurrin Gree Funded Initiatives Factsheets (Word 589 Kb).

Increasing Aboriginal participation in the Victorian public sector workforce

Karreeta Yirramboi: the Victorian Aboriginal Public Sector Employment and Career Development Action Plan 2010-15 (PDF 216 kb) or (Word 101 kb) was developed in partnership with the Aboriginal community. Karreeta Yirramboi details actions to increase Aboriginal participation in the Victorian public sector workforce and fulfils Victoria's COAG commitment to a 1% Aboriginal employment target in the Victorian public sector.