Legislative Council Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1) 55 1 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Closing the Gap Closing the Gap The Hon. J.E. HANSON Legislative Council Closing the Gap The Hon. J.E. HANSON (15:08): My question is to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs. Will the minister update the council about grants currently available for Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations to support work to close the gap? The Hon. K.J. MAHER Legislative Council Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Attorney-General Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector Closing the Gap The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (15:09): I thank the honourable member for his question. One of the greatest stains on us as a society is the gap in outcomes between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians, be it in life expectancy, health, education or in the justice area. Successive governments of all persuasions, although many have tried diligently, have not been able to close the gap in many of these measures. The National Agreement on Closing the Gap represents a new approach to this important work and, importantly, an approach and partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The national agreement is supported in our state by the South Australian Partnership Agreement signed between the chief executive of the Attorney-General's Department and the co-convenors of the South Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation Network. The agreement reflects the government's commitment to shared decision-making with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) in this important work of Closing the Gap. It is the same principle that underpins the First Nations Voice established in South Australia, that the best outcomes for Aboriginal people are most often brought about when delivered in partnership with Aboriginal people, not just imposed upon them. As part of this partnership, I was pleased to be able to announce that applications are now open for up to $150,000 to build the capacity of South Australia's Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations. ACCOs are able to apply for grants across five rounds of funding in the 2023-24 financial year, with the fund totalling $2.7 million. Applications for the first round are still open; they close later this month, on 23 May. The first round aims to support ACCOs to participate and engage in the place-based partnership and community data projects, which are both actions under the national agreement. These activities are particularly targeted at Closing the Gap in the western suburbs of Adelaide, and cover council areas including West Torrens, Charles Sturt and Port Adelaide Enfield. This area is endorsed as a location for a place-based partnership under the national agreement, just one of seven locations nationwide. In particular, this round of grant funding seeks to meet one of the priority reforms of the Closing the Gap national agreement: building the Aboriginal community controlled sector and helping to strengthen their work to undertake new initiatives. These grants will help deliver the Closing the Gap agenda in practice and support ACCOs to do their important work. It is truly vital work with South Australia's ACCO sector, including organisations like the Aboriginal Family Support Services, Nunkuwarrin Yunti, Tauondi Aboriginal College, the Family Violence Legal Service, local health services and so many others. I would particularly like to commend those working in SAACCON and in government for their hard work that has gone into this program, and I am looking forward to eligible communities applying and taking advantage of the funding opportunities in this area.