For more than ten years, on the third Thursday in March, Australians have been observing National Close the Gap Day to show support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health equity and other vital initiatives.
This year’s theme is Progressing Voice, Treaty, Truth, Leadership and Governance and Building our Economies.
The 2024 The Closing the Gap annual report ‘Voyage to Voice, Treaty, Truth and Beyond’ prepared by the Lowijja Institute on behalf of the Close the Gap Campaign Alliance Group outlines the details.
The Department of Water and Environmental Protection is committed to Aboriginal engagement and strong place-based partnerships that contribute to enabling Aboriginal people in the decision-making processes and building self-determination.
Director Jillian Collard, who leads our Aboriginal Engagement and Partnerships team said the department’s Aboriginal Engagement function leads and facilitates a coordinated approach to delivering shared objectives relating to Aboriginal empowerment in water and environmental outcomes.
“Our department has four guiding principles to inform and guide decisions to effectively collaborate and genuinely engage with Traditional Owners, Aboriginal peoples, and communities. These guiding principles align with Western Australia’s Aboriginal Empowerment Strategy and the Closing the Gap Jurisdictional Implementation Plan,” said Jillian.
The commitment to increase engagement and participation of Aboriginal people into the stewardship of the state’s land and water are manifest in our current programs of work including:
- Aboriginal Water and Environment Advisory Group
- Formal Collaboration Agreement with Yawuru
- Green Jobs Plan
- Delivery of the Pilbara Environmental Offsets Fund
- Murujuga Rock Art Strategy implementation and partnership with the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation
- Delivery on the water components of the Southern Yamatji native title settlement.
