A Better, Safer Future for Central Australia

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The Australian Government is working with communities to deliver the plan for A Better, Safer Future for Central Australia (Central Australia Plan).

Announced in early 2023, the Central Australia Plan is a four-year plan implemented in partnership with the Northern Territory Government, local governments, organisations and communities.

By listening to locals, Aboriginal Elders and community organisations, the Australian Government is making investments in programs and services that will improve the lives of First Nations people and help to Close The Gap. 

Because of the Australian Government’s landmark package for Central Australia, communities in the region have already seen:

  • Improved access to preventative health services for children and families with early intervention, FASD and Autism diagnosis and support
  • Increased funding for every school in Central Australia, so that we can get more kids to school and keep them there
  • Increased funding for police, domestic violence services and youth services
  • Better health infrastructure, such as the Todd Street Health hub in Alice Springs
  • More emergency accommodation and safe spaces for women and young people.

 

Delivering for Communities

The Australian and Northern Territory Governments are working with the Central Australian community to deliver programs and initiatives that improve the lives of First Nations people throughout the region.

Through the Central Australia Plan, we are delivering investment in programs and services that improve lives in Central Australia across six key areas:

  1. Improved community safety and cohesion – through more youth engagement and diversion programs
  2. Job creation – particularly in the communities that surround Alice Springs – including urgent changes as part of replacing the failed Community Development Program (CDP)
  3. Better services – by improving health services in surrounding communities, there will be less pressure on Alice Springs
  4. Preventing and addressing the issues caused by Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders – including better responding through the health and justice systems
  5. Investing in families – including by better supporting Elders and parents, boosting domestic violence services
  6. On country learning – improving school attendance and completion through caring for culture and country.

 

Our Central Australia Plan is a four-year plan to drive long-term improvements to people’s lives across communities. Already, the Government has:

  • Established the Central Australia Plan Aboriginal Leadership Group to provide independent advice on the A Better, Safer Future for Central Australia Plan
  • Increased funding for police, domestic violence services and youth services 
  • Delivered Traditional Owner community night patrols in Alice Springs
  • Improved access to preventative health services for children and families with early intervention, FASD and Autism diagnosis and support
  • Increased funding for every school in Central Australia, getting more kids to school and keeping them there. Learn more about the On Country Learning Measure: Central Australian Schools Action Plans
  • Upgraded Wi-Fi in four Town Camps
  • Funded the construction of 20 beds to provide safe short-term accommodation in Alice Springs
  • Improved lighting and safety measures at community spaces across Alice Springs
  • Better health infrastructure, such as the Todd Street Health hub 
  • Funded Youth diversion and early intervention support services for First-Nations youth to address underlying drivers of anti-social behaviour, including a Mobile Youth Hub for Town Camps
  • Increased family and domestic violence support services in Alice Springs and surrounding areas, including funding services that address the impacts of violence
  • Improved funding for community infrastructure in remote communities
  • Started work to establish the first junior ranger programs in the Central Australia region.

But we know that there’s more to do, so the Australian Government is continuing to listen to communities on what more can be done to build a better, safer future for Central Australia.

 

Listening to Communities

Listening to communities is an important part of how the Australian Government is delivering the Central Australia Plan. 

With communities at the centre of our approach, we’re working with communities, leaders and organisations and across all levels of government to progress initiatives under the Central Australia Plan. 

 

Central Australia Plan Aboriginal Leadership Group

The Hon Linda Burney MP, Minister for Indigenous Australians, established the Central Australia Plan Aboriginal Leadership Group in June 2023 to provide independent advice on the A Better, Safer Future for Central Australia Plan.

Mr Les Turner, CEO, Central Land Council is the Chair for the Aboriginal Leadership Group.  

 

Central Australia Plan Aboriginal Leadership Group Members

The Minister invited councils and organisations operating in the Central Australia region to nominate a member to sit on the Aboriginal Leadership Group. 

  • Central Land Council 
  • Lhere Artepe Aboriginal Corporation 
  • Central Australian Aboriginal Congress
  • Central Desert Regional Council 
  • MacDonnell Regional Council 
  • Alice Springs Town Council 
  • Strong Grandmothers Group 
  • Tangentyere Council
  • A youth representative.

 

Central Australia Aboriginal Youth Roundtable 

The NIAA and the Aboriginal Leadership Group are working in partnership with the Central Australia Aboriginal Youth Roundtable (the Roundtable) Chair and members to co-design its form and structure, providing young First Nations people the opportunity to engage with government in a way that is meaningful to them.

The Roundtable will support the development of young Aboriginal leaders across Central Australia, while offering opportunities to identify and consider topics of importance to young people in the region.

 

Central Australian Regional Controller

In January 2023, Ms Dorrelle Anderson was appointed as the Central Australian Regional Controller, to engage and consult with communities and ensure this new approach is maintained and supported.

The Regional Controller, with the Australian and Northern Territory Governments, led two phases of engagement in 21 remote Central Australian communities from March to August 2023, talking and listening to remote community members about the issues they were experiencing. 

More than 1000 community members and 80 service providers participated in these consultations, with many people appreciating the opportunity to speak directly to government. Key issues raised by remote community members include needing:

  • better access to government services, especially health care services
  • more job opportunities and training pathways
  • new houses and essential housing maintenance to address overcrowding
  • infrastructure including roads and lighting, as well as infrastructure to support youth activities like ovals and basketball courts
  • Aboriginal ownership of the solutions, shared governance and decision making.

 

About the region for the Central Australia Plan

The definition for the region covered by the Central Australia Plan is represented by one Statistical Area Level 3 (SA3) under the name ‘Alice Springs’ and three Local Government Areas (LGAs) – Alice Springs, MacDonnell and Central Desert (with the exclusion of the community of Lajamanu).

The boundaries accepted by the Australian Government are the NT Government Boundaries for the Central Australia Region. It does not include the Barkly Region or Lajamanu.

Brief statistics on Central Australia:

  • The Central Australia region includes the major centre of Alice Springs, as well as 26 communities, 16 town camps and over 200 outstations
  • It has a population of over 38,100 people
  • 41.2% of the population identify as Aboriginal across the region, and this increases to 80% of the population outside of Alice Springs
  • 34.6% of the population are children and young people aged 0 – 24 years.

The language groups for the 26 Central Australian communities in this initiative include: Eastern, Western and Central Arrernte, Warlpiri, Anmatyerr, Pitjanjatjara, Luritja/Pintupi, Southern Luritja/Pitjanjatjara and Alyawarr. 

 

Related News

  • Summer in Central Australia Over the 2023-24 summer, the NIAA worked alongside the NT Government to ensure residents and visitors in Central Australia enjoyed a safe holiday period.

Media Releases

 

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