The National Partnership Agreement on Remote Service Delivery (RSD NPA) was signed by the Commonwealth, New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory in January 2009.
Under this agreement the Australian Government and the relevant States and Northern Territory are investing $291.2 million over six years from 1 July 2009 to change the way they work with Indigenous Australians in a number of priority communities.
New ways of working will help to better harness the benefits of funds and initiatives provided through the range of National Partnerships agreed by COAG.
The broad objectives of the RSD NPA are:
- to improve Indigenous families’ access to a range of government services
- to raise these services to the standard provided to other Australians living in communities of similar size and location
- to improve governance and leadership within the communities, including among Indigenous community organisations
- to achieve better coordinated government services
- to increase economic and social participation wherever possible and promote personal responsibility and positive behaviours.
Governments recognise that sustainable progress in remote Indigenous locations depends on community leadership and on working with local Indigenous people and organisations.
The Remote Service Delivery National Partnership Agreement requires a two-way commitment:
- From governments and their staff – to cooperate to put in place the resources and planning for better infrastructure and services and to develop the capacity of individuals, communities and local service providers
- From the community and community members – to work with government to improve the community and to take responsibility for their own wellbeing, in particular the health, safety and education of their children.
The Government has appointed a Coordinator General for Remote Indigenous Services, Mr Brian Gleeson, to oversee the implementation of the Remote Service Delivery National Partnership Agreements and monitoring their contribution to achieving the Closing the Gap targets in the priority locations.
The Coordinator-General formally reports twice a year on the development and delivery of services in the priority locations. He also reports to Commonwealth, State and Territory agencies on obstacles within their areas of responsibility and advises the Minister for Indigenous Affairs and Council of Australian Governments (COAG) on the need for any changes.