Implementing a Working Future

Working Future is closely aligned with the COAG National Indigenous Reform Agreement (rtf 1.9Mb), which aims to improve outcomes for all Indigenous Australians. The agreement recognises that improving outcomes for Indigenous people requires adoption of a multi-faceted approach that sees effort directed across seven key building blocks: Early Childhood, Schooling, Health, Economic Participation, Healthy Homes, Safe Communities, and Governance and Leadership.

Below is an overview of each area with links to relevant documents outlining the Australian and Territory Governments' commitment to improving the lives of Indigenous Territorians.

Early childhood
Schooling
Health
Economic participation
Healthy homes
Safe communities
Governance and leadership

Early childhood

Aims to improve the early childhood outcomes of Indigenous children to give them the best start in life. Through a variety of initiatives and agreements, the Australian, State and Territory governments are working together to ensure that all Indigenous children have access to quality early childhood education.

Indigenous Early Childhood Development National Partnership Agreement (pdf 195Kb)

Provides for the establishment of five child and family centres in the NT, four of which are in Territory Growth Towns.

Schooling

Aims to ensure Indigenous children and youth meet basic literacy and numeracy standards, and overall levels of literacy and numeracy are improving. This includes increasing the number of Indigenous people successfully transitioning from school to work and/or further study.

Low Socio-Economic Status School Communities National Partnership Agreement (pdf 203Kb)
- Identifies schools for targeted effort, including schools in Territory Growth Towns.
NTG Remote Learning Partnerships (pdf Kb)
- Written agreements between the NTG and 15 Territory Growth Towns in relation to education delivery and community responsibility.
Smarter Schools - Improving Teacher Quality National Partnership Agreement (rtf Kb)
- Designed to improve teacher and school leader quality to sustain a quality teaching workforce.
Productivity Places Program National Partnership Agreement (pdf 334Kb)
- Increase access by Indigenous people to employment and training services.
Smarter Schools - Literacy and Numeracy National Partnership Agreement (pdf Kb)
- Programs to accelerate Indigenous students' literacy and numeracy, including in Territory Growth Towns.
National Partnership Agreement on Early Childhood Education (pdf 194Kb)
- Concentrates on reforming the delivery of early childhood education and care services through the delivery of universal access to early childhood education. The universal access commitment is that by 2013 every child will have access to a preschool program in the 12 months prior to full-time schooling.
National Partnership on Youth Attainment and Transitions (pdf 295Kb)
- Will deliver a Youth Compact to support young people to gain skills through stronger engagement in education and training. It requires young people to complete Year 10 and then to be in full-time education, training or employment; offers a training entitlement to all 15 to 24 year olds; and provides improved support through career advice and better assistance with the transition through school to further training and work.

Health

Aims to ensure Indigenous Australians achieve health outcomes comparable to the broader population. This includes increasing Indigenous people’s access to suitable and culturally inclusive primary health and preventative services.

Closing the Gap in Indigenous Health Outcomes National Partnership Agreement (rtf 546Kb)
- Funding to implement measures relating to Indigenous health, including in remote areas.
Preventative Health National Partnership Agreement (rtf 253Kb)
- Funding to address 11 key chronic disease risk factors (e.g. smoking, risky drinking, poor diet and obesity).

Economic participation

Aims to ensure the Indigenous working age population has the depth and breadth of skills and capabilities required for the 21st century labour market. This includes increasing the number of Indigenous people of working age participating in all sectors and at all levels of the labour market.

Both the Australian and Northern Territory Governments are committed to implementing Indigenous economic development strategies.

Remote Indigenous Public Internet Access National Partnership Agreement (pdf Kb)
- Internet access and training in remote indigenous communities, including Territory Growth Towns.
CDEP
- The Australian Government has reformed the CDEP program as of
  1 July 2009.
Indigenous Economic Participation National Partnership Agreement (pdf Kb)
- Sets targets around Indigenous employment in the public sector and outlines the Northern Territory's commitment to increase Indigenous employment through procurement practices.

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Healthy homes

Aims to ensure Indigenous people have the same housing opportunities as others. This includes improved housing amenity and a reduction in overcrowding, particularly in remote areas.

Remote Indigenous Housing National Partnership Agreement (pdf 315Kb)
- $1.7 billion to the Northern Territory over 10 years for housing in remote areas and normalisation of town camp housing arrangements.
Homelessness National Partnership Agreement (pdf 383Kb)
- An agreement providing for additional dwellings, specialist tenancy support and transition from institutional care to stable housing.
Social Housing National Partnership Agreement (rtf 217Kb)
- An agreement leading to an increased stock of public housing and private rentals to enable long-term housing for people who are at risk of homelessness.

Safe communities

Aims to ensure Indigenous children and families are safe and protected from violence and neglect in their home and communities. This includes reducing the amount of alcohol and substance abuse in remote communities.

Alcohol Management Plans
- Place-based Alcohol Management Plans for remote areas, including Territory Growth Towns.

Governance and leadership

Aims to ensure that Indigenous communities are empowered to participate in policy making and program implementation. Indigenous communities will be represented through credible consultation/governance mechanisms.

Remote Service Delivery National Partnership Agreement (pdf 415Kb)
- $160 million over five years to deliver reforms to remote service delivery in 15 locations.
- The Northern Territory and Australian Governments have finalised a Bilateral Implementation Plan outlining how the National Partnership Agreement will be implemented in the Northern Territory

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