A First Nations organisation has called on the federal government to implement the findings of an independent evaluation of an integrated, place-based system of services targeting whole-of-community change, which they say can help to close the gap.

Children's Ground is a First Nations organisation aiming to address intergenerational poverty and drive sustainable change over 25 years.

In 2024, an independent evaluation commissioned by the federal Department of Health, Disability and Ageing and undertaken by Allen and Clarke provided a comprehensive assessment of the Children's Ground Approach across Central Australia and Darwin.

The evaluation found the approach is an effective, First Nations-led model for addressing complex disadvantage and that its activities are being implemented well.

The approach "developed a highly effective employment pathway for community members, which addresses key barriers to employment and enables extensive employment of community members".

However, it found underfunding and inadequate access to government-held data are preventing Children's Ground from demonstrating its full long-term impact, with the organisation calling for full seven-year, multi-departmental government funding.

Insufficient capital funding for vehicles, buildings, utilities, equipment, learning resources and other infrastructure was also noted, with the report arguing permanent facilities in communities could substantially improve access, engagement, safety, governance and service coordination.

It added that the lack of data was also a hindrance, with Children's Ground unable to consistently access the government-held data needed to determine whether its work is producing longer-term improvements in health, education and economic outcomes.

Petition to Canberra

This week, Children's Ground launched an online petition urging the government to implement the recommendations. It will be presented to parliamentarians in Canberra next month.

"Children's Ground currently relies on a combination of philanthropy and fragmented government funding, requiring the organisation and communities to repeatedly seek funding across individual programs and short funding cycles," they said in a statement.

"Coordinated long-term government funding would allow the Approach to operate as designed and provide communities with greater certainty to plan for children's futures beyond individual grants and government funding cycles."

Deputy CEO Christian Lugnan said the recommendations came from the government's own commissioned report, arguing that many of their approaches were meeting or exceeding Closing the Gap targets.

"Full funding means we can allocate our scarce resources elsewhere instead of having to ongoingly manage a dozen funding agreements for different government departments," he said. "On that alone, that'd be fantastic."

The Children's Ground approach requires "necessary resources to deliver or facilitate all the services" as well as a critical mass — 75 per cent or more of community members participating in Children's Ground activities, Allen and Clarke said in their evaluation.

"Due to the nature of the Children's Ground approach, if these conditions are not met, the Children's Ground approach will not have the maximum impact possible."

Mr Lugnan said that, currently, in the organisation's "best" performing community, about 75 per cent of the full Children's Ground approach was being delivered.

"We want to get to 100 per cent in every community," he added.