Priority Reform One of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap is focused on establishing formal partnerships and shared decision-making between governments and Aboriginal representatives. This includes six place-based partnerships across Australia to drive local, community-led outcomes towards Closing the Gap.
In August 2022, the Joint Council on Closing the Gap endorsed the East Kimberley as Western Australia’s place-based partnership with a focus on the towns of Kununurra, Halls Creek and Wyndham. The East Kimberley place-based partnership brings government and Aboriginal representatives together to share decision-making about local programs and services to ensure they meet the needs of local communities.
Early Years
Aboriginal communities chose ‘Early Years’ as the priority focus, with the partnership to be called the East Kimberley Little Footprints Big Futures Partnership. The Early Years focus will support healthy mums during pre-birth through to children at age seven. The WA Government has committed $1.3 million in the 2024-25 State Budget to implement early years initiatives through the place-based partnership.
Governance
The Partnership Table is the shared decision-making table with senior representatives from:
- Binarri-binyja yarrawoo Aboriginal Corporation (Empowered Communities East Kimberley) and six Aboriginal community representatives
- Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley
- Shire of Halls Creek
- WA Government Department of the Premier and Cabinet
- WA Government Department of Communities
- WA Government Department of Education
- WA Country Health Services
- National Indigenous Australians Agency
- Australian Government Department of Education
- Australian Government Department of Health, Disability & Ageing
- Australian Government Department of Social Services
Meetings
The Partnership Table meets four times per year, with at least two meetings held in the East Kimberley.
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