WA Gov will boost the number of ACCOs to improve services for First Nations families
The Sector > Policy > WA Gov will boost the number of ACCOs to improve services for First Nations families

WA Gov will boost the number of ACCOs to improve services for First Nations families

by Freya Lucas

September 09, 2022

The West Australian Government has announced a new strategy to strengthen the delivery of services to Aboriginal children, families and communities by increasing opportunities for Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCO) to deliver culturally appropriate services.

 

The ACCO strategy is directly aligned to Priority Reform Area Two of the 2020 National Agreement on Closing the Gap, “Building the community-controlled sector.”

 

The ten-year strategy was developed by representatives from 11 ACCOs across the State, Department of Communities and the Department of Finance. It aligns to several Priority Reform Areas and Socio-Economic targets identified within the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and aims to empower Aboriginal children, families and communities to choose their own futures from the foundations provided by ACCOs.

 

 “Aboriginal people across Western Australia have repeatedly told us that to truly change outcomes, Aboriginal communities must lead the way, and that is achieved through community-based and family-led solutions,” Community Services Minister Simone McGurk said.

 

“ACCOs usually achieve better results, employ a majority of Aboriginal workforce and are the preferred providers by Aboriginal people over mainstream services,” she continued. 

 

“The ACCO Strategy seeks to improve Communities’ delivery of services to Aboriginal children, families and communities, and to support ACCOs to deliver culturally appropriate services across WA.”

 

ACCOs provide a vast range of services and support including health, healing, safe homes, housing, education and training, child protection, disability support, justice, and maintaining strong connections to land and culture.

 

Beyond the commitment made under Communities’ ACCO Strategy the WA Government has allocated $3.4 million to assist Aboriginal community controlled groups progress towards targets in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap for the next four years.

 

Grants from the fund will go towards delivering high-quality, sustainable services for Aboriginal people and communities in the sectors of early childhood care, housing, health and disability.

 

Access The Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) Strategy 2022 to 2032: Empowering Aboriginal children, families and communities to choose their own futures from secure and sustained foundations provided by ACCOs using the link provided. 

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