View - LIME Network

Box 11.5.3 COAG initiativesCOAG TrialsIn 2002, COAG agreed to a trial of a whole-of-government cooperative approach in upto 10 communities or regions. The aim of these trials was to improve the waygovernments interact with each other and with communities to deliver more effectiveresponses. The lessons learnt from these cooperative approaches will be able to beapplied more broadly. This approach will be flexible in order to reflect the needs ofspecific communities, build on existing work and improve the compatibility of differentState, Territory and Commonwealth approaches to achieve better outcomes.Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage: Key IndicatorsIn 2002, COAG agreed to commission a regular report against key indicators ofIndigenous disadvantage. This report will help to measure the impact of changes topolicy settings and service delivery and provide a concrete way to measure the effectof COAG’s commitment to reconciliation through a jointly agreed set of indicators.National Framework of Principles for Government Service Delivery to IndigenousAustraliansIn 2004, COAG agreed to a National Framework of Principles for Government ServiceDelivery to Indigenous Australians. The principles address sharing responsibility,harnessing the mainstream, streamlining service delivery, establishing transparencyand accountability, developing a learning framework and focussing on priority areas.COAG committed to Indigenous participation at all levels and a willingness to engagewith representatives, adopting flexible approaches and providing adequate resourcesto support capacity at the local and regional levels.Source: COAG 2002; 2004.The COAG trials commenced in 2002. Government commissioned evaluations ofthe trials were published in February 2007, and lessons learnt are to be incorporatedinto the new ‘place-based approach’ to government interaction with indigenouscommunities (Brough 2007). Lessons relevant to ‘government governance’included:• Governments and Indigenous communities must be willing to understand andwork respectfully with each other in productive and lasting relationships.• Government staff need training in how to engage with respect for the protocolsand processes in Indigenous communities.• There cannot be a one size fits all approach. Solutions should be responsive tolocal circumstances and reflect a whole of government, as opposed to singleagency, initiative.ECONOMICPARTICIPATION ANDDEVELOPMENT11.49