The NSW Government, in partnership with the NSW Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations (CAPO) has released the NSW Closing the Gap Implementation Plan 2025-2028, setting a clear roadmap for stronger partnerships, better accountability, and meaningful outcomes for Aboriginal communities.
A commitment under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, the Implementation Plan sets out the next three-year phase for Closing the Gap in NSW, backed by $206 million in new funding invested by the Minns Labor Government in the 2025-26 Budget.
It is a whole-of-government implementation plan, focussing on boosting delivery of initiatives that are having the most impact in improving the lives of Aboriginal people while also increasing accountability and transparency.
The new plan streamlines 144 initiatives into 14 new and 31 ongoing projects to deliver the greatest impact for Aboriginal communities.
The Government is committed to working in partnership with CAPO to deliver outcomes for Aboriginal people across the National Agreement's five Priority Reforms and 17 socio-economic targets, including health, education, employment, justice, housing and strengthening culture.
The Implementation Plan is focussed on targeted initiatives to boost outcomes across a range of areas, including: Aboriginal languages revitalisation, Aboriginal businesses, land activation, social and emotional wellbeing programs, shared data access, maternity and infant care.
The new initiatives include:
- Aboriginal Languages Program of Works - $23.8 million to strengthen Aboriginal languages across NSW by supporting community-led revitalisation, returning archival language resources to communities, and growing a skilled Aboriginal language workforce.
- End-to-End Land Activation pilot - $17.9 million to support Aboriginal communities to better activate housing and economic development opportunities from land returned to their ownership
- Aboriginal Employment Program - $12.1 million to create long-term roles for Aboriginal people in cultural land and biodiversity management, delivered in partnership with Local Aboriginal Land Councils
The previous Implementation Plan delivered real momentum, strengthening partnerships, improving access to services, and supporting community-led solutions including:
- Launched the Tamworth place-based partnership to support local, community-led priorities.
- Piloted the Data Connectors Program to improve community access to government-held data.
- Supported Birthing on Country models, including the first program in Nowra.
- Rolled out Pregnancy Family Conferencing to six new sites across NSW, supporting culturally safe perinatal decision-making.
- Held regular Aboriginal Business Roundtables to strengthen economic partnerships.
- Established the NSW Aboriginal Business Taskforce to grow Aboriginal-owned businesses.
- Released the Aboriginal Health Plan 2024-2034 to guide culturally strong health outcomes.
- Delivered the Elsa Dixon Aboriginal Employment Grant to create career pathways.
- Supported Elders' and respected community members' roles in justice decisions, including bail and parole.
- Delivered the ALS Bail Advocacy and Support Program for culturally informed legal assistance
The NSW Closing the Gap implementation plan 2025-2028 is available here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/aboriginal-affairs-nsw/resources/closing-gap-2025-2028-implementation-plan.
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty David Harris said:
"With this Implementation Plan, I reaffirm my deep commitment to work in partnership with the NSW CAPO and other Aboriginal stakeholders in meeting NSW's obligations under the National Agreement to create better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
"The focus of this plan is to scale up the most effective approaches and implement strategic reforms across government to best achieve positive outcomes for people.
"We know that we see progress when Aboriginal peoples determine, drive and own the change they want to see and this plan has been centred around Aboriginal community priorities and shared decision-making."
NSW CAPO Co-Chair, Councillor Charles Lynch said:
"This 2025-28 Implementation Plan demonstrates the strength of the partnership between NSW CAPO and NSW Government and sets out a shared vision for the years ahead.
"Together we have identified key priorities and agreed on how the Priority Reforms will be delivered across the whole of government through the Change and Transformation Strategy. It is both a product of strong partnership and a plan to deepen it - driving structural reform, embedding shared decision-making and creating the conditions for lasting improvements in the lives of Aboriginal people and communities."
