THERE IS CLEAR evidence mainstream government services have, for decades, failed to improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations. In fact, there is evidence that many of their policies cause harm. For example, the Northern Territory Intervention initiated in 2007 aimed to reduce Indigenous child sexual abuse in response to the Little Children are Sacred report. Instead, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) data shows it has resulted in increases in child sexual abuse in the NT every year since. It was also hugely costly and had no Aboriginal advice.
Most state, territory and federal government services for Indigenous Australians have been very expensive, based on inappropriate data, and ignorant of vital Aboriginal knowledge.
Programs that
