The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled Coalition of Peaks can reveal that more than 1500 people and organisations have responded to its online survey on Closing the Gap. Today is the final opportunity to engage with the survey. The deadline for responses has already been extended once given the high level of engagement and to allow for more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and organisations to respond.

The online ‘Have Your Say’ survey is part of a comprehensive set of engagements led by the Coalition of Peaks in partnership with Australian governments, so that the development of a new National Agreement on Closing the Gap can be informed by the expertise and experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities from across the country.

Throughout September and October, the Coalition of Peaks has also consulted with its own members and held face-to-face meetings in a number of communities across almost every state and territory. The final leg of community engagements is set to kick off with six face-to-face meetings in Queensland, beginning with Thursday Island on Monday November 11.

The Coalition of Peaks is grateful for the willingness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to participate and share their views and add their voice to the conversation on closing the gap.

The Coalition of Peaks will make sure that what has been said is heard by Australian governments and is at the centre of the drafting of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

A report on what we heard in the survey and through our face-to-face engagements will be prepared by the Coalition of Peaks, to be provided to governments and made public. The report will inform the finalisation the new National Agreement between the Coalition of Peaks and COAG.

The Coalition of Peaks is a representative body comprised of nearly fifty Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peak organisations that have come together to have their collective voice heard. The Coalition of Peaks is working with the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) to develop a new National Agreement on Closing the Gap to replace the National Indigenous Reform Agreement.