Tamworth has become Australia's first town to see a local council and Aboriginal community-controlled organisation sign a formal agreement to work together on Closing the Gap.
In a landmark partnership between the Tamworth Regional Council and a group of local Aboriginal organisations, the Mara Ngali - 'our two hands' working together - Partnership Agreement was signed on Friday.
Councillor and Gomeroi man, Marc Sutherland, said the agreement reflects a turning point for the region, which sees Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 13 per cent of Tamworth's population.
"Aboriginal people are pushing to step beyond giving advice to councils, they want to work in partnership and be a part of making decisions on issues impacting them," Mr Sutherland said.
"Mara Ngali in Gomeroi means our two hands. Two hands that work together, delivering action under a shared vision. The Partnership hopes to deliver real outcomes for Aboriginal people across our region."
Along with many towns across the country, Tamworth suffers from disparities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in key metrics, including health, education, and social outcomes. It is hoped the agreement will be the beginning of a culturally informed, community-led approach to helping to reduce this gap.
"We can always achieve more when we work together," Mr Sutherland wrote on Facebook.
"Mara Ngali creates a formal commitment to work in collaboration to deliver place-based solution under the National Closing the Gap Agreement."
Under the agreement, a roadmap of action has been developed in five key areas: Formal partnerships with shared decision-making, strengthening Aboriginal community-controlled services, culturally safe and accountable council services, transparent data sharing, and boosting Aboriginal employment and economic development.
Lead Convenor of the Coalition of Peaks, Pat Turner AM, said the partnership was a "historic first," noting never had a local government made "such a formal and genuine commitment to Close the Gap in partnership with our people".
"This is what self-determination looks like – the Aboriginal community driving change, with governments walking alongside us, and real accountability built in from the ground up," Ms Turner said.
"I commend the leadership of the Tamworth Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, Tamworth Regional Council, and Councillors Marc Sutherland and Charles Lynch for showing the country what partnership and progress can look like."
Tamworth Regional Council will embed Closing the Gap targets into its planning and provide resources for implementation. It will report annually on progress, with local Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations – including the Aboriginal Legal Service, Land Council, Health Service, and several education providers.
Catherine Trindall, Chairperson of the Tamworth Medical Service Tamworth Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (TACCO), says Mara Ngali isn't a "talkfest," nor "just a piece of paper". Instead, it is about "both of us working together in partnership to ensure our voices are listened to, and the action of the agreement".
"We're going to carry the torch of our ancestors, continue to carry their vision and legacy. We aren't about closing the gap but bettering the gap," she said.
The agreement, which the Coalition of Peaks says shows "what's possible when communities and governments walk together in true partnership," marks a powerful and positive commitment to shared decision-making and local action, with local, First Peoples' voices being heard for the first time at a council level.
For Mr Sutherland, the strength and importance behind Mara Ngali is clear.
"We're setting the path forward," he says, "and I believe this approach will become the standard across local governments."
