First Peoples

Collection
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Curated from a broad selection of key Indigenous policy topics, the First Peoples & Public Policy Collection brings together diverse, policy-relevant practice resources and research information to support the development and implementation of better public policy.
Report

Strong culture, strong youth: our legacy, our future

This report documents, through eight case studies, organisations and individuals work in communities to enrich the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and youth. One of the most encouraging aspects of these case studies is the way in which they detail and have...
Report

Joining the real economy: a quantitative mapping of the economic potential of remote Indigenous communities

The disadvantage of remote Indigenous communities is well understood. However, governments are yet to develop an effective solution for resolving this situation. Utilising the latest ABS Census data and other key datasets, this paper quantitatively demonstrates that it is possible for remote communities to be...
Report

Overview of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health status 2022

The early sections of this report present information about the social and cultural context of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, social determinants, the structure of the population, and measures of population health including births, deaths and hospitalisations. The remaining sections consist of selected health...
Report

Inquiry into community safety, support services and job opportunities in the Northern Territory

The Joint Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs has published this report on its inquiry into community safety, support services and job opportunities in the Northern Territory. The report makes several recommendations to the Commonwealth and Northern Territory governments in the wake...
Report

Aboriginal Outcomes Strategy focus area 2 (out-of-home care) – were the targets achieved?

This report assesses the extent to which the Department of Communities and Justice (NSW) achieved its five-year strategy to reduce over-representation of Aboriginal children in out-of-home care.
Report

You can’t pour from an empty cup: strengthening our service and systems responses for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people who experience domestic and family violence

Other authors
Lisa Hillan, Eva Ruggiero, Jennifer Parsons, Gareth Prior, Lela Idagi, Rachel Bruce, Aletia Twist, Tracy Gray, Mary Hostalek, Jamie Gibson, Beverley Mitchell, Traven Lea, Carol Miller, Fred Lemson, Sonya Bogdanek, Ursula Barber, Daryl Higgins, Alex Cahill
This research provides an understanding of how services and systems, including health and education, can better hear from and respond to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people who experience domestic and family violence.
Report

An overview of Indigenous mental health and suicide prevention in Australia

This report provides essential information and statistics on mental health, suicide and self-harm among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It outlines contemporary Australian policy responses and directions, and risks and protective factors for mental health and suicide prevention. It also explores evidence of best...
Strategy

Closing the Gap implementation plan 2023

The Coalition of Peaks’ Closing the Gap implementation plan 2023 sets out the work the Coalition of Peaks will undertake to progress and accelerate implementation of the National Agreement.
Report

Advisory report on the Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Amendment Bill 2022

This committee report recommends that the Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Amendment Bill 2022 be passed, if amendments are made to strengthen enfranchisement and participation in the referendum, particularly of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, and clear, factual and impartial information is made accessible to all voters.
Strategy

Commonwealth Closing the Gap implementation plan 2023

This document gives purpose and direction to the Australian government's efforts to transform government, in line with the National Agreement’s four Priority Reforms that include formal partnerships between government and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Report

Proposed actions for alcohol related harm in central Australian communities

This report recommends that the NT Government, with the help and partnership of the Commonwealth, acts to implement immediate restrictions for takeaway alcohol on town camps and nearby remote communities.
Report

Hey! Hear me out

This project aimed to understand what helps, and what makes it hard for First Nations NDIS participants who are deaf or hard of hearing, to use their NDIS plans in a way that meet their needs and aspirations.
Strategy

Safe and supported: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander first action plan 2023-2026

The Safe and Supported: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander First Action Plan 2023-2026 will focus on achieving safety and wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. It was developed in partnership with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Group.
Report

Nōku te Ao: sovereignty of the Māori mind

The purpose of this report is to present a Māori world view of factors that contribute to discrimination of people who have experienced — or continue to experience — mental distress.
Report

Deaths in custody in Australia 2021–22

In 2021–22, there were 106 deaths in custody: 84 in prison custody and 22 in police custody or custody-related operations. In total, there were 24 Indigenous deaths and 81 non-Indigenous deaths in custody and one death of a person whose Indigenous status was unknown. This...
Report

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visual arts and crafts: study report

This report examines the value, nature and structure of markets for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visual arts and crafts, and makes recommendations to the Australian government to address deficiencies in these markets.
Report

Bail and parole app scoping project: final report

This project scoped whether application software for a mobile or similar device (an app) that supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on bail or parole is regarded as appropriate, useful and beneficial within the ACT Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities involved with the...
Report

Food security and Indigenous mental health

This report explores the extent and impact of food insecurity on the mental health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including efforts to address food insecurity.
Report

Investigating enhancements of Indigenous data in suicide-relevant data sets

Accurate and timely data about suicide and suicidal behaviour of Indigenous Australians are important to measure progress against Closing the Gap Target 14. Through a desktop review and consultation with stakeholders, this report found a high degree of complexity in the process of classifying, coding...
Report

Geographic variation in suicide risk and service delivery to Indigenous Australians

This report identifies regions (using the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Indigenous Regions) in which suicide prevention among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is likely to be relatively challenging compared with other regions.
Report

An unsettling decision: a legal and social history of native title and the Mabo decision

This paper has been prepared by the Parliamentary Library to mark the 30th anniversary of the High Court’s Mabo (No. 2) decision. It outlines the background and history of the decision, significant subsequent developments, the current status of Native Title and potential future developments.
Report

Boordiya Waangkiny: Elders’ stories of hope, resilience and connection

The Noongar people’s continued resilience, connection to culture, and hope for the future, is the basis for this publication. Much of the information is derived from Noongar Elders who have shared stories of their pasts and hopes for the future.
Report

Pre-sentence reports for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: an analysis of language and sentiment

Pre-sentence reports (PSRs) provide information to courts on an individual’s background, circumstances, risks, needs and plans. This study describes the language and sentiment in these reports. The authors studied PSRs written for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people sentenced by the mainstream County Court of...
Policy report

Policy futures: a reform agenda

It is intended that this publication will serve to increase the accessibility of valuable evidence and experiences to policy-makers within Australia. The University of Queensland and the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust also hope that it will encourage more partnership approaches toward developing public policy that...