Outcomes

Focus within the outcomes domain

DPC leads several whole of government actions within the outcomes domain. This includes many of the VAAF’s commitments to informing self-determined, community-defined policy approaches by providing accessible data for Aboriginal people and organisations. DPC is also exploring ways to move towards pooled, outcomes-based funding for Aboriginal organisations. This will enhance self-determination and flexibility over funding expenditure, in line with Victoria’s commitments under the VAAF and National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

Overview of progress

DPC made good progress in this domain, particularly through the development and release of a publicly available Aboriginal data dashboard on FPSR’s website. This interactive dashboard helps Aboriginal people and organisations access outcomes-based data that is relevant to them. It also keeps government accountable to its public commitments by highlighting progress and areas for improvement. In 2022, DPC plans to undertake further work to ensure the dashboard provides local level data where available.

DPC also led development of Victoria’s Closing the Gap Implementation Plan (Implementation Plan) in partnership with the Aboriginal Executive Council and other implementation partners, to reflect the unique and diverse needs of Victoria’s Aboriginal communities. The Implementation Plan brings together new and existing actions that will contribute to Victoria achieving – and exceeding – targets under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and the VAAF.

Further work is required across DPC to transition from measuring outputs to measuring outcomes, and to better facilitate self-determined, outcomes-based approaches to policy design and service delivery.

2.3.1 DPC's contribution to whole of government outcomes

Develop and table in Parliament Victoria’s implementation plan for the National Agreement on Closing the Gap

Responsible DPC Group	FPSR
Progress	Complete
Enablers	Prioritise culture Transfer power and resources to communities Address racism and promote cultural safety
Progress and impacts	Victoria’s Implementation Plan was approved by Cabinet, and tabled in Parliament in June 2021, alongside the 2020 VGAAR (see Case Study 2.3.1). FPSR led the drafting and coordination of the Implementation Plan, with support from all departments and implementation partners, and continues to support all departments during the implementation process.
Future commitments	Report on our progress against the Implementation Plan through the VGAAR.

Release a publicly available Victorian Government Aboriginal Affairs data dashboard on the FPSR website

Responsible DPC Group	FPSR
Progress	Complete
Enablers	Prioritise culture Transfer power and resources to communities Address racism and promote cultural safety
Progress and impacts	FPSR leads development of the outcomes-focused VGAAR, which is tabled in Parliament annually. An interactive data dashboard was released in June 2021 on the FPSR website to provide Aboriginal communities and organisations with access to data that informs assessments of our progress towards improved outcomes. Design of this dashboard was informed by lessons from DPC’s COVID-19 Aboriginal data dashboard in 2020. This dashboard is an important step in improving accessibility of the data government holds and in enhancing accountability by sharing this information with Aboriginal people and organisations.
Future commitments	Progress work to ensure the dashboard provides local or regional level data where available (see section 2.4.1 for a summary of progress towards this commitment).

Progress outcomes-focused funding reform

Responsible DPC Group	FPSR
Progress	Ongoing
Enablers	Prioritise culture Transfer power and resources to communities
Progress and impacts	FPSR continued to support various departments with distinct funding reform initiatives in 2020 and 2021, following DPC’s coordination of the Aboriginal Funding Reform Project (Project) in 2019. DFFH now leads their own project, working with participating Aboriginal organisations to co-design new and/or to modify existing funding agreements to ensure that reporting and milestones are less burdensome and proportionate to funding amounts. This work is guided by recommendations from external consultants and is based on government’s commitment in the VAAF to provide community-led, outcomes-focused funding for Aboriginal organisations.
Future commitments	Continue prioritising outcomes-based and flexible funding arrangements for Aboriginal organisations. Continue supporting other departments in funding reform initiatives, including implementing changes to funding processes as a result of the Project. Ensure alignment with the advancement of the treaty and truth processes, including considerations of an evolving partnership approach as treaty progresses. Explore options for new and innovative funding models which provide outcomes-based funding to support the achievement of the socio-economic targets in the VAAF and the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

CASE STUDY 2.3.1: Closing the Gap Implementation

Victoria’s Implementation Plan outlines Victoria’s ambitious self-determination reform agenda and sets out Victoria’s planned actions to improving outcomes for all Aboriginal people by achieving the targets set out in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

Implementing the National Agreement

The new National Agreement on Closing the Gap represents a fundamental shift in the approach of governments to Closing the Gap - one that is built upon genuine and meaningful partnerships with Traditional Owners, the Aboriginal Community Controlled Sector and the wider Aboriginal community.

This shift has been driven at the national level by the Coalition of Peaks. In Victoria, government worked closely with the Aboriginal Executive Council and other key ACCOs in the development of Victoria’s implementation plan.

The Implementation Plan was tabled in Parliament in June 2021 and reflects Victoria’s nation-leading approach to Aboriginal Affairs, including the Victorian Government’s broader commitment to treaty, working with the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, truth telling through the Yoorrook Justice Commission, and progressing self-determination through the VAAF. The Implementation Plan will run until 2023 and will drive the four Closing the Gap priority reforms areas that are key to achieving and exceeding the socio-economic targets and outcomes within the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

Next steps

Victoria will report on our progress against the Implementation Plan through the VGAAR. This will include monitoring all priority reform areas, socio-economic targets and other key commitments outlined in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and the Implementation Plan.