This review draws on independent evaluations of the eight Council of Australian Governments (COAG) trials to identify key lessons. The trials aimed to explore new ways for governments to work together and with communities to address the needs of Indigenous Australians. Each site involved at least three partners: the Australian Government, the relevant state or territory government, and a representative body from the local Indigenous community. 

Very little was prescribed for the trials, with each site deliberately allowed to evolve in response to the needs and aspirations of the communities involved. To support comparison across the eight sites, a common evaluation framework was developed, using the rationale underpinning the COAG trials to inform the program logic. 

The review examined five key areas:

• the comparability of evaluations
• what has been learned about new ways of working
• how governments worked together
• the extent to which partnerships between governments and Indigenous communities were built
• the level of capacity building and shared responsibility achieved. 

Overall, the review found evidence of the value of governments and communities working together to establish foundations for longer-term outcomes through locally agreed solutions. It identified eight key implications for the future, emphasising the need for strong central leadership, clear and achievable agreements, improved capability across all partners, simplified processes, flexible place-based approaches, and the use of established frameworks to support better outcomes.