The Closing the Gap Partnership reflects a new model of working together where all governments work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders with an increased level of accountability on all parties for the achievement of outcomes. The Minister for Indigenous Australians represents the Commonwealth in the Closing the Gap Partnership and is Co-Chair of the Joint Council on Closing the Gap (Joint Council) with Ms Patricia Turner AM, Lead Convenor of the Coalition of Peaks. The Commonwealth, through the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA), supports the Minister in this role and coordinates across the Commonwealth to enable the Minister to effectively represent the Commonwealth.

This Implementation Plan sets out the actions the Commonwealth is taking to drive and embed real and positive change and how the Commonwealth will contribute to realising the ambition of the National Agreement. This is the first Implementation Plan. It establishes a strong foundation for the Commonwealth to deliver on its commitments and embed the Priority Reforms.

Chapters on each Priority Reform and socio-economic target outline the key efforts and investments of Commonwealth agencies that contribute to achieving outcomes – including existing and new actions. These actions are included in dedicated Action tables that list in detail the effort and investment the Commonwealth is making that contribute to each Outcome. Some actions have been included under several sections in recognition of the interconnectedness of outcomes.