Key Elements
- This measure establishes a $46.0 million funding pool to respond flexibly and quickly to high priority needs identified in the 29 Remote Service Delivery National Partnership priority communities. The Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and the Department of Health and Ageing are each contributing to the funding pool.
- The National Partnership is a significant first step towards more effective collaboration across Commonwealth Government agencies to reduce red tape and better enable communities to meet immediate local needs.
- This measure builds on the success of the Local Priorities Fund which was established under Closing the Gap in the Northern Territory in order to flexibly address local needs such as environmental health and safety, community information technology equipment and essential maintenance and repairs for community facilities.
- It also responds to a key recommendation from the first report of the Coordinator‑General for Remote Indigenous Services about the need to ensure flexibility in delivering programs to benefit Indigenous Australians.
Background
- Through the Remote Service Delivery National Partnership, Australian governments agreed to a coordinated approach to identifying and addressing investment priorities with 29 priority Indigenous remote communities.
- These communities are:
- in Western Australia: Fitzroy Crossing and surrounding communities, Halls Creek and surrounding communities, and the Dampier Peninsula (with a focus on Beagle Bay and Ardyaloon)
- in the Northern Territory: Angurugu, Galiwinku, Gapuwiyak, Gunbalanya, Ntaria (Hermannsburg), Lajamanu, Maningrida, Milingimbi, Nguiu, Ngukurr, Numbulwar, Wadeye, Yirrkala, Yuendumu and Umbakumba
- in South Australia: Amata and Mimili in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands
- in Queensland: the Gulf communities of Mornington Island and Doomadgee, and the Cape York communities of Aurukun and Hope Vale, together with continuing work in Coen and Mossman Gorge which are part of the Cape York Welfare Reform trial
- in New South Wales: Walgett and Wilcannia.
Implementation
- This fund will invest in priority projects identified through Local Implementation Plans developed collaboratively between Government and the 29 priority communities.
- This measure will mean that the Government can respond flexibly and quickly to high priority needs that are identified by community members, reducing red tape and bureaucratic delays.
Total Government Funding
- The Commonwealth Government has committed $46.0 million to the Remote Service Delivery Flexible Funding Pool and this funding will be available over three years.
Content Updated: 23 May 2012
