Aboriginal outcomes

The National Agreement on Closing the Gap brings together federal, state and local governments to collaborate with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to transform service delivery and improve socio-economic outcomes.

The NSW government and the NSW Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peak Organisations partner to deliver outcomes, where the department leads:

• Target 9b: This target relates to community infrastructure which has been endorsed nationally and responds to the proportion of Aboriginal households receiving essential services that meet or exceed relevant jurisdictional standards. Additional details of this target in NSW are being finalised.
• Target 15a: By 2030, a 15 per cent increase in landmass subject to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s legal rights or interests.

View more information about the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and access available data on the targets and indicators via the Productivity Commission Information Repository Dashboard.

The department's Aboriginal Participation Strategy (APS) (PDF 4.37MB) is designed to maximise the number of contracts awarded to Aboriginal businesses.

The NSW Government’s Aboriginal Procurement Policy (APP) encourages agencies to direct 1% of their addressable spend and 3% of goods and services contracts to Aboriginal business. Aboriginal Strategy, Policy and Engagement (ASPE) developed the APS in partnership with the procurement team and the NSW Indigenous Chamber of Commerce to exceed these targets and make Aboriginal procurement more meaningful, considered and fit for purpose.

The strategy aims to increase internal cultural capability and support the prosperity of Aboriginal-owned businesses through meaningful procurement, while ensuring value for money.

In July 2025, the Department proudly launched our new Aboriginal Visual Identity, a striking design created by proud Dunghutti woman Kyara Fernando. Kyara’s design serves as a testament to, and representation of, the enduring relationship of our communities with the lands and waters that have sustained us for years.

Illustrating a central gathering place surrounded by other communities effectively showcases the diversity of shared cultural traditions. This emphasises the strength of bloodline connections and the bonds that have lasted for generations, symbolising the living history and collective identity essential to the richness of Aboriginal culture.

The incorporation of environmental elements, water ways and hill landscapes evoke powerful imagery of Aboriginal ancestral lands, reminding us of the importance of maintaining a connection with nature.

It is through recognising and preserving these landscapes we can continue to honour and ensure the survival of Aboriginal cultural practices for thousands of years.

Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) includes objects or materials, artwork and iconography. It also has intangible elements – the knowledge and cultural practice incorporated within the objects.

This cultural heritage is living and evolving. It is handed down from generation to generation and is inextricably connected to Country.

ICIP, and the roles and responsibilities to look after culture and pass it on, come from Country. They come from the particular Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander group, or their lands or waters. Many generations may contribute to the development of ICIP. In this way, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage is communally owned.

Through the department’s work on Country and our engagement with Aboriginal peoples, we inevitably engage with ICIP and the department is commitment to protecting ICIP. You can learn more by reading the DPHI Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property Protocol.

In 2021, we launched our Aboriginal Cultural Capability Framework called Winanga-li. Winanga-li means to hear or listen in the Gamilaraay language, reflective of the work to listen, to reflect and act to improve cultural capability, strengthen cultural safety and enable Aboriginal Outcomes across the NSW public sector

As part of the suite, the Walking Together, Learning Together - Cultural Leadership Program represents the partnership between Aboriginal staff (as mentors) and senior leader (as mentees) build as they journey throughout the program and ‘learn together’

Wherever you are in NSW, you’re always on Country. We acknowledge and respect Aboriginal people’s rights, obligations and roles as Traditional Custodians of the land, sea and waterways.

Working at the department, we provide support from mentors and networks including great training and development opportunities developed by and for Aboriginal staff to help you achieve goals and your career pathways.

Have a yarn with our Aboriginal Careers and Capability team who can help you with the application process or go to Our Mob on Country for more information.