The Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled peak organisations (the Coalition of Peaks) has today launched a website aimed at engaging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on the new National Agreement on Closing the Gap to be agreed with Australian governments and how it will work in their communities.

The new website tells the story of who the Coalition of Peaks is, why it formed and how its community-controlled members are working with Australian governments to improve life outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

It also details the historic Partnership Agreement on Closing the Gap between the Coalition of Peaks and Australian governments, introduces the Coalition of Peaks’ Joint Council members and provides background on the Priority Reforms that will underpin the new National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

“We have been working hard on behalf of our communities to get a new National Agreement in place that will make life much better for our people,” said Pat Turner AM, Lead Convener of the Coalition of Peaks, CEO of NACCHO and Co-Chair of the Joint Council.

“At the heart of the work of the Coalition of Peaks are the voices and priorities of our communities. The Coalition of Peaks is negotiating with Australian governments so that the new National Agreement is built around what Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have said for a long time is needed to improve the lives of our people, and is informed by Coalition of Peak led engagements with our communities late last year.

“The Coalition of Peaks wants Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations across Australia to be fully engaged and take ownership of the new Closing the Gap strategy. This is fundamental to improving the life outcomes of our people; making sure our communities’ priorities are at the centre of Closing the Gap; and holding governments accountable for the actions they commit to.

“We built this website so that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations across Australia can be part of the work of the Coalition of Peaks with governments. It will be updated when the new Agreement is in place with practical resources that can be used by communities to make sure they know and benefit from the Agreement,” Ms Turner said.

The new National Agreement on Closing the Gap is expected to be in place before the end of July this year.

In addition to the website, the Coalition of Peaks is also launching social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoalitionofPeaks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coalition_peaks/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/coalition_peaks

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations are encouraged to engage with and share the work of the Coalition of Peaks.

About the Coalition of Peaks: The Coalition of Peaks is a representative body of around fifty Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled peak organisations and members. The Coalition of Peaks came together on their own as an act of self-determination to be formal partners with Australian governments on Closing the Gap.

Members are either national, state or territory wide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled peak bodies including certain independent statutory authorities. Their governing boards are elected by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and

/ or organisations.

For more information on the Coalition of Peaks and to sign up for our mailing list, go to www.coalitionofpeaks.org.au

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