Structural change to government needed

Governments must change how they work with First Nations communities, Pat Anderson, CEO of NACCHO, and convenor of the Coalition of Peaks, believes.

On NITV, Ms Anderson said structural change was needed within government, in how they work with communities, shared decision-making partnerships, and to transform their own institutions so that they’re safe places for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Ms Anderson said she expected much stronger leadership from the second term of the Labor Government when it comes to the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

Real change would only come when funding is tied to reform — and when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations were not sidelined by bureaucracy, but properly empowered to lead the work.

Anderson also called for Federal leadership on youth justice.