Communities and Justice

Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations

Our commitment to Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) and how to demonstrate eligibility for ACCO contracts for the delivery of human services.

  1. Our commitment to building the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled sector
  2. The definition of an ACCO and of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Organisation
  3. Eligibility for ACCO contracts.

Our commitment to building the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled sector

The NSW Government is a signatory to the National Agreement for Closing the Gap (the National Agreement), which was released in July 2020. The National Agreement represents a commitment to shared decision-making as a fundamentally new way of working in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The National Agreement was endorsed by state and territory jurisdictions as well as the National Voice for our Children (SNAICC).

At the centre of the National Agreement are priority reforms that focus on changing the way governments work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. One key priority is building the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled sector.

Definitions

Definition of an ACCO

DCJ has adopted the definition of an ACCO set out in Clause 44 of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

Clause 44 states that:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community control is an act of self-determination. Under this Agreement, an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Community-Controlled Organisation delivers services, including land and resource management that builds the strength and empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and people and is:

  • incorporated under relevant legislation and not-for-profit
  • controlled and operated by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people
  • connected to the community, or communities, in which they deliver the services
  • governed by a majority Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander governing body.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation (other than an ACCO)

DCJ recognises there may be instances where services to Aboriginal people and their communities will need to be delivered by an Aboriginal organisation. DCJ will use the definition of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation from the National Agreement on Closing the Gap (to be referred to in this document as ‘Aboriginal organisation’):

A business, charity, not-for-profit organisation, incorporated under Commonwealth, state or territory legislation, that has at least 51% Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander ownership and/or directorship and is operated for the benefit of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Eligibility for ACCO contracts

To be eligible for targeted contracts with ACCOs, your organisation must demonstrate how it meets the definition of an ACCO.

You would meet the definition if you can demonstrate you are:

  1. an entity with the legal capacity to enter into an Agreement with DCJ;
  2. a not-for-profit registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profit Commission (ACNC);
  3. Aboriginal controlled and operated and able to demonstrate 51% or more Aboriginal people on the governing body;
  4. connected to the community in which they will deliver services.

DCJ recognises that ACCOs may be registered with:

Organisations registered under the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Organisations (ORIC), Supply Nation, or the NSW Indigenous Chamber of Commerce may be ACCOs or Aboriginal organisations. Further investigation of entity status may be undertaken by DCJ to clarify this.

In the event that it is not clear whether your organisation is an ACCO or Aboriginal organisation, DCJ will seek advice from the Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations (CAPO) Secretariat.

If your organisation meets the definition of an Aboriginal Organisation, there may be circumstances where you may be contracted to deliver human services, subject to program requirements and local needs. As part of our commitment to the delivery of services to Aboriginal communities, consideration of organisations that do not meet these requirements may be given on a case-by-case basis. 

You will have the opportunity to identify your organisation during the commissioning process.

This information will be captured in our Payments and Contracts System (PACS) and referred to when reporting on funding and service delivery by ACCOs and Aboriginal Organisations.

Last updated:

30 Oct 2024