Overview - Master Class
Building Productive Relationships between Government & Indigenous service providers

Building more productive relationships for effective implementation

This Masterclass explores practical ways to build positive and functional working relationships and partnerships between Government agencies and organisations involved in service delivery to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to support better outcomes.

By attending you will develop your understanding of both the factors creating blockages in the business relationship and the opportunities for better practices, which will better enable both NGOs and agencies to achieve their goals and fulfil their accountabilities.

While there is a growing consensus around closing the gap between Indigenous and other Australians, many aspects that regulate how Governments do business with NGOs, and deliver services through them, are frustrating and dysfunctional. Reports over a long period have called for reforms, but only limited progress has been made.

All Governments have committed to a concerted strategy aimed at Closing the Gap, including targets, timelines and major new funding, but the job ahead is effective implementation.

• Governments say that engagement and partnerships with Indigenous people are integral to closing the gap on the ground. But making this happen is the big challenge


• While COAG has spelt out new service delivery principles for programs and services for Indigenous Australians, putting them into practice is unfinished business.

Governments have also made commitments to new working relationships with NGOs, recognising that overcoming disadvantage is a joint effort. They acknowledge that this must involve less agency red-tape, simplified and streamlined funding arrangements. Research involving Indigenous organisations has pointed the way to better approaches; this research needs to be harnessed to lead to improved service delivery outcomes.

• Where is progress happening and how can this be extended?


• How can NGOs help shape and guide the implementation agenda?

This interactive masterclass will share positive ideas and experience, address problem areas and good practice, and foster networking opportunities amongst participants.

Who should attend?

This Masterclass is designed specifically for NGOs, particularly Indigenous organisations, and government agencies involved in delivering programs and services to ‘close the gap’ in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander outcomes. It is targeted to staff involved in:

• Service planning and delivery
• Managing program funding and grants
• Engagement with community
• Outcomes
• Performance reporting and redtape control
• Planning
• Identifying and extending good practice approaches
• Governance and accountability

View the agenda

Download the brochure

Book early for the best rates & take advantage of group discounts

To register a group please call 1300 316 882 and we’ll coordinate your registration.