[{"issue_id":"kb-001","theme":"Justice, policing and safety","title":"Raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility","summary":"In most Australian jurisdictions children as young as 10 can still be charged, arrested and detained, well below the international benchmark of 14. Recent law changes have moved some jurisdictions backwards, and First Nations children are the most affected. Early criminalisation pulls children into a system that research links to worse health and more offending.","ctg_targets":[11,12],"priority_reforms":[2,3],"undrip_articles":[7,17,21,22],"sdgs":[16,10],"sjr_recs":[18],"measures":["Minimum age of criminal responsibility in each jurisdiction (law in force)","Children aged 10–13 entering youth detention for the first time","Young people 10–17 in detention per 10,000 (PC target 11)"],"wathaga_role":"Wathaga can host community-owned dashboards that follow children diverted under a higher age, using indicators communities define and keeping identifiable data under Indigenous data governance.","evidence":[{"page":"415","point":"At the time of writing only the ACT set the minimum age at 14; Victoria had moved to 12, while Queensland, NSW, WA, Tasmania and the NT sat at 10, with the NT having reversed its rise to 12 in October 2024.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"415","point":"The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child recommends a minimum age of at least 14 and advises states never to lower an age once set.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"86","point":"Communities consulted for the report consistently called for the age to be raised, saying children under 14 lack the developmental capacity to be held criminally responsible.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"419","point":"The chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child publicly criticised the NT decision to return the age to 10 as contrary to the Convention.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-002","theme":"Justice, policing and safety","title":"Ending youth detention and over-use of remand","summary":"First Nations young people are detained at many times the rate of other young people, and most of those in detention have not been sentenced. Tougher bail and sentencing laws and new detention centres are expanding a system that the evidence says is costly and makes reoffending more likely. Prevention, diversion and family support are under-funded by comparison.","ctg_targets":[11,7],"priority_reforms":[2,3],"undrip_articles":[7,17,21,22],"sdgs":[16,10],"sjr_recs":[18,16],"measures":["Young people 10–17 in detention per 10,000 (PC target 11)","Share of young people in detention who are unsentenced","Proportion of first-time detainees aged 10–13","Funding for ACCO-led youth diversion compared with detention spending"],"wathaga_role":"Communities can use Wathaga to compare spending on detention with investment in local diversion and to report youth outcomes they value, strengthening the case for reinvestment.","evidence":[{"page":"409","point":"In 2023–24 about 26 in every 10,000 First Nations young people aged 10–17 were in detention on an average day, roughly 26 times the rate for non-Indigenous young people.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"409","point":"An estimated 74% of children in detention were unsentenced and on remand, rising to around 90% in Queensland and 99% in the NT.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"411","point":"Over a third (34.7%) of First Nations young people in detention in 2023–24 were aged just 10–13 when they first entered detention.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"417","point":"Several governments are committing large sums to new youth detention facilities, which the report argues would deliver more if spent on prevention and family support.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"Target 11","point":"The national rate of young people in detention was 25.7 per 10,000, with no change against the target.","source":"pc2026"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-003","theme":"Justice, policing and safety","title":"Safe detention: OPCAT oversight and no solitary confinement","summary":"Australia ratified OPCAT in 2017 but several jurisdictions have not set up independent inspection bodies, and no jurisdiction bans solitary confinement of children. Children report long lockdowns, isolation and being held in adult watchhouses, and restraint devices banned after a royal commission have been reintroduced in one jurisdiction. Without independent monitoring, harm continues unseen.","ctg_targets":[11,10,14],"priority_reforms":[3],"undrip_articles":[7,22,40],"sdgs":[16],"sjr_recs":[18],"measures":["Jurisdictions with a designated and funded OPCAT National Preventive Mechanism","Recorded episodes of isolation of children (hours per episode)","Use of restraint devices on children in custody"],"wathaga_role":"A community-controlled monitoring log in Wathaga could let Elders and visiting organisations record and aggregate concerns safely, giving independent inspectors community-sourced evidence.","evidence":[{"page":"402","point":"NSW, Queensland and Victoria had not designated National Preventive Mechanisms under OPCAT, and no jurisdiction prohibits solitary confinement of children.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"402","point":"A WA court found three young people had been unlawfully isolated for a combined 167 days in 2023.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"418","point":"Children in detention face overcrowding, repeated lockdowns and up to 23 hours a day in cells, and some are held for long periods in police watchhouses with adults.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"414","point":"NT amendments restored spit hoods in youth detention and removed the detention-as-last-resort principle.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-004","theme":"Justice, policing and safety","title":"Ending adult over-incarceration and remand","summary":"First Nations adults are imprisoned at rising rates and a large share are held on remand awaiting trial or sentence. Over-policing, bail rules that penalise people without stable housing, and limited reintegration support compound one another. Most First Nations people have never been imprisoned, so this is a system problem rather than a community trait.","ctg_targets":[10,9],"priority_reforms":[2,3],"undrip_articles":[2,7,40],"sdgs":[16,10],"sjr_recs":[18,15],"measures":["Adult imprisonment rate per 100,000 (PC target 10)","Proportion of First Nations people in prison who are unsentenced","Return to prison within two years of release","Availability of ACCO-run bail and post-release support places"],"wathaga_role":"Wathaga can help justice groups bring together local data on remand, release and support services, so communities can see where the pipeline into prison starts and argue for local alternatives.","evidence":[{"page":"397","point":"At 30 June 2024, 2,304 per 100,000 First Nations adults were in prison, up from 2,042 in 2023 and 1,906 in 2019; First Nations people were over 35% of adult prisoners while about 3% of the population.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"397","point":"Around 44% of First Nations people in prison nationally were unsentenced, and people without secure housing or bail money are more likely to be held.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"398","point":"Remand numbers nearly doubled over a decade while sentenced numbers barely moved, and Indigenous people made up 61% of the rise in unsentenced prisoners.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"404","point":"A NSW study of 2,731 people in prison identified eight social determinants of justice, including out-of-home care, early police contact, unsupported disability and unstable housing.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"Target 10","point":"The adult imprisonment rate was about 2,500 per 100,000 and the target is worsening.","source":"pc2026"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-005","theme":"Justice, policing and safety","title":"First Nations women and the justice system","summary":"First Nations women are the fastest-growing prison population and are often mothers, grandmothers and carers whose imprisonment harms whole families. Many have histories of trauma and violence, and some are misidentified as perpetrators when they seek help for family violence. Women have also died in police custody and during arrest.","ctg_targets":[10,13,12],"priority_reforms":[2,3],"undrip_articles":[7,21,22],"sdgs":[5,16,10],"sjr_recs":[18,19],"measures":["Imprisonment rate of First Nations women per 100,000","Deaths of First Nations women in police and prison custody","Women supported by First Nations women's legal services"],"wathaga_role":"Women's organisations could use Wathaga to collect stories and outcomes on their own terms, building evidence for women-led justice responses without handing control of sensitive data to government.","evidence":[{"page":"398","point":"First Nations women are described as the fastest-growing prison population and are estimated to be up to 25 times more likely to be imprisoned than non-Indigenous women.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"398","point":"A growing number of First Nations women have died in custody, many in police watchhouses or during arrest.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"84","point":"Submissions reported that police responses to family violence often end with First Nations women wrongly treated as perpetrators and criminalised.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-006","theme":"Justice, policing and safety","title":"Preventing deaths in custody and independent investigations","summary":"More than 600 First Nations people have died in custody since the 1991 Royal Commission, and no one has been held criminally responsible. Families have little confidence when police investigate police, and coroners repeatedly find deaths were preventable. The report calls for a national inquiry into investigation practice and independent complaint pathways for families.","ctg_targets":[10,11,14],"priority_reforms":[3],"undrip_articles":[2,7,40],"sdgs":[16],"sjr_recs":[19,18],"measures":["Deaths of First Nations people in police and prison custody per year","Share of custody deaths investigated by a body independent of the agency involved","Coronial recommendations implemented within two years"],"wathaga_role":"Wathaga could host a community-maintained tracker of coronial and Royal Commission recommendations, giving families and advocates a shared, transparent record of what has and has not been done.","evidence":[{"page":"400","point":"Since the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody reported in 1991, more than 600 First Nations people have died in custody and no person has been held criminally responsible.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"401","point":"A key failing since the Royal Commission is the lack of independent investigation of police conduct in deaths and critical incidents.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"424","point":"First Nations communities have little faith in police investigating their own members, and a recent NT inquest heard evidence of racism within the police force.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"425","point":"Recent coronial findings judged several deaths preventable, citing failures in custodial health care and in de-escalation and cultural training.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-007","theme":"Justice, policing and safety","title":"Equal health care for people in custody","summary":"People in prison cannot use Medicare or the PBS, creating a separate and often lower standard of health care. Coroners have linked failures in prison health care to preventable deaths of First Nations people. Integrating Aboriginal community-controlled health services into prison health is a practical step toward cultural safety and continuity of care.","ctg_targets":[1,10,14],"priority_reforms":[2,3],"undrip_articles":[21,24],"sdgs":[3,16],"sjr_recs":[17],"measures":["People in custody with access to Medicare/PBS-equivalent care","Prisons with ACCHO in-reach services","People released with a confirmed primary-care appointment"],"wathaga_role":"ACCHOs delivering in-reach could use Wathaga to monitor continuity-of-care outcomes they define, demonstrating impact for long-term contracts.","evidence":[{"page":"403","point":"Prisoners are excluded from Medicare and the PBS, entrenching a two-tier system that coroners have linked to preventable deaths.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"425","point":"In one recent case a coroner recommended that Aboriginal health organisations be integrated into prison health services to make care culturally safe.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"127","point":"A health justice partnership told the Commission that prison health systems sit apart from public health and largely escape scrutiny.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-008","theme":"Justice, policing and safety","title":"Fair policing and police accountability","summary":"Communities describe over-policing, racial profiling and charges that are later dropped, alongside slow or poor responses when they need help. Complaints systems are often inaccessible and lack independence, which erodes trust. Initial contact with police shapes every later stage of the justice system.","ctg_targets":[10,11,18],"priority_reforms":[3],"undrip_articles":[2,7,40],"sdgs":[16,10],"sjr_recs":[19,14],"measures":["Complaints against police by First Nations people and share independently investigated","Charges against young people later withdrawn or dismissed","Community trust in police (community-run survey)"],"wathaga_role":"Wathaga can combine community survey data on trust and safety with published policing data, letting communities hold local commands to account using evidence they control.","evidence":[{"page":"82","point":"In every community engagement people raised over-policing, inexperienced officers and unjustified charges, often later dropped, that criminalise young people.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"397","point":"Over-policing at first contact leads to higher charge rates, more bail refusals and longer remand, compounding at each stage.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"89","point":"A WA Aboriginal legal service called for an independent, impartial police complaints body, noting current mechanisms are culturally unsafe and lack enforcement powers.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"426","point":"An NT inquest into a police shooting recommended anti-racism measures, better complaint handling and more investment in youth and community services.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-009","theme":"Justice, policing and safety","title":"Independent monitoring of Royal Commission and justice commitments","summary":"Many of the 339 Royal Commission recommendations remain unimplemented after more than three decades, and coordinated national follow-up has faded. Governments report activities rather than results, so public reporting alone has not changed behaviour. The report proposes an independent monitor and funding consequences tied to justice targets.","ctg_targets":[10,11],"priority_reforms":[1,3],"undrip_articles":[38,40],"sdgs":[16,17],"sjr_recs":[18,15],"measures":["Royal Commission recommendations fully implemented, by jurisdiction","Existence and resourcing of an independent monitoring body","Funding agreements containing justice-target performance requirements"],"wathaga_role":"Wathaga can provide the community-facing scorecard layer, tracking commitments against community-defined measures and making progress visible to everyone.","evidence":[{"page":"400","point":"The Royal Commission made 339 recommendations; many were never implemented and imprisonment rates have kept rising.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"423","point":"Without a systemic monitoring body there is little visibility of progress, and responsibility has been left to states with little federal oversight.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"426","point":"The 2025 independent review of Closing the Gap found implementation plans list many actions without showing how they improve outcomes.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"427","point":"The report proposes that Commonwealth funding be reduced, redirected or made conditional where state policies push incarceration up, and rewarded where progress is shown.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-010","theme":"Justice, policing and safety","title":"Justice reinvestment and community-led alternatives to custody","summary":"The main drivers of incarceration sit outside the justice system, in poverty, housing, school disengagement and health. Community-led justice reinvestment and on-Country alternatives to custody have shown strong results where they are trusted and resourced. Funding is still small compared with spending on prisons and police.","ctg_targets":[10,11,7],"priority_reforms":[1,2,4],"undrip_articles":[3,4,5,34],"sdgs":[16,11,17],"sjr_recs":[18,16],"measures":["Number of funded community-led justice reinvestment sites and funding term","Local charges, bail refusals and detention days (site-level)","Community-defined wellbeing and safety indicators at each site"],"wathaga_role":"Justice reinvestment depends on shared local data; Wathaga can be the community-governed home for that data, with indicators and theories of change co-created by each site.","evidence":[{"page":"419","point":"The ALRC Pathways to Justice inquiry found the major drivers of First Nations incarceration lie in poverty, family violence, housing, schooling and health, and recommended justice reinvestment.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"430","point":"The Commonwealth was funding 28 of 30 community-led justice reinvestment initiatives through a $79 million national program.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"431","point":"A long-running Aboriginal-led justice reinvestment project in western NSW recorded a 38% fall in charges across the top five juvenile offence categories and an estimated impact about five times its annual cost.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"434","point":"An on-Country healing centre and youth employment program run with Traditional Owners contributed to a 95% fall in recorded youth offences between 2018–19 and 2021–22.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-011","theme":"Justice, policing and safety","title":"Cognitive disability, FASD and the justice system","summary":"A high share of criminalised First Nations people live with cognitive or intellectual disability, often undiagnosed. The Disability Royal Commission called their over-representation in custody, especially youth detention, a hidden national crisis. Early assessment and community-based support can keep people out of systems that are not built for them.","ctg_targets":[10,11,14],"priority_reforms":[2,3],"undrip_articles":[21,22,24],"sdgs":[10,16,3],"sjr_recs":[18],"measures":["People screened for cognitive disability at custody reception","People held under indefinite detention orders","NDIS participants retaining supports during custody"],"wathaga_role":"Wathaga can help community-led assessment programs track referrals and outcomes while applying strict, community-set rules for sensitive health data.","evidence":[{"page":"399","point":"The Disability Royal Commission described the over-representation of First Nations people with cognitive disability in custody, especially youth detention, as a largely hidden national crisis driven by systemic disadvantage.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"399","point":"It recommended ending indefinite detention, banning solitary confinement of children with disability and strengthening ACCO-led disability services.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"429","point":"The report calls for assessments for cognitive impairment and FASD from early childhood, with courts, police and corrections required to take them into account.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"114","point":"Children with disability in out-of-home care or detention cannot use their NDIS funding while incarcerated.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-012","theme":"Children, families and child protection","title":"Supporting families instead of removing children","summary":"First Nations children are removed into out-of-home care at about ten times the rate of other children, and rates today exceed those during the period examined by the Bringing Them Home inquiry. Poverty, overcrowding and family violence are often treated as neglect rather than met with support. Removal is also a strong pathway into youth and adult justice systems.","ctg_targets":[12,4,9],"priority_reforms":[1,2,3],"undrip_articles":[7,8,21,22],"sdgs":[1,10,16],"sjr_recs":[18,16],"measures":["Children in out-of-home care per 1,000 (PC target 12)","Share of child protection spending on prevention and family support","Substantiations primarily for neglect, by Indigenous status","Children under delegated Aboriginal authority"],"wathaga_role":"Family-support ACCOs could use Wathaga to evidence what keeps children safely at home, using family-defined outcomes rather than compliance metrics alone.","evidence":[{"page":"407","point":"In 2024, 50 in every 1,000 First Nations children were in out-of-home care compared with 4.8 per 1,000 non-Indigenous children, just over ten times the rate.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"407","point":"Neglect was the primary reason in 28.6% of substantiations for First Nations children in 2022–23 against 16.8% for other children, reflecting poverty treated as parental failure.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"406","point":"State agencies are now removing First Nations children at higher rates than during the period investigated by Bringing Them Home.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"410","point":"Widely used structured decision-making tools have been found to rely on factors correlated with race and to be less accurate for First Nations children.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"Target 12","point":"The rate of children in out-of-home care was 52.2 per 1,000 and the target is worsening.","source":"pc2026"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-013","theme":"Children, families and child protection","title":"Applying the Child Placement Principle in full","summary":"The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle requires prevention, partnership, placement with kin, participation and connection, but it is applied unevenly. Children are still placed permanently with non-Indigenous carers and lose contact with family, culture and Country. The consequences echo the harms of earlier removal policies.","ctg_targets":[12,16],"priority_reforms":[1,2,3],"undrip_articles":[7,8,11,13,22],"sdgs":[10,16],"sjr_recs":[16,18],"measures":["Children placed with kin or other First Nations carers (%)","Children in care with a current cultural support plan","Permanent care orders to non-Indigenous carers"],"wathaga_role":"Wathaga can let ACCOs monitor placement and connection outcomes for children in their care, with data held under community governance rather than only in departmental systems.","evidence":[{"page":"407","point":"First Nations children continue to be removed and placed permanently with non-Indigenous people, contrary to state legislation and the Child Placement Principle.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"259","point":"International human rights bodies have raised concern about rising out-of-home care numbers and inconsistent application of the Child Placement Principle.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"101","point":"SNAICC urged that laws and policies for First Nations children be developed against both UNDRIP and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-014","theme":"Children, families and child protection","title":"Family safety led by communities","summary":"Family and domestic violence was raised as a serious concern in many communities, alongside a lack of culturally safe services. Violence against First Nations women is severe and under-addressed, and current responses can lead to children being removed or women being criminalised. Community-controlled family violence services and women's legal services show what works.","ctg_targets":[13,12,14],"priority_reforms":[1,2,4],"undrip_articles":[7,21,22],"sdgs":[5,16,3],"sjr_recs":[16,10],"measures":["Hospitalisation from family violence assault (PC target 13 indicator)","Funding for community-controlled family violence services","Community-defined family safety indicators"],"wathaga_role":"Because national family safety progress cannot be assessed, community-defined measures held safely in Wathaga could fill part of the evidence gap while protecting victim-survivors' privacy.","evidence":[{"page":"396","point":"National reports highlight higher rates of family violence experienced by First Nations women and children, and a parliamentary inquiry examined murdered and missing First Nations women and children.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"396","point":"Community-controlled family violence services and specialist First Nations women's legal services show intersectional approaches work when communities govern them.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"126","point":"Communities described family violence as an urgent issue and pointed to the shortage of culturally safe services and community-led responses.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"407","point":"Children witnessing family violence can lead to emotional abuse findings and removal, rather than support for the family to stay together safely.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"Target 13","point":"Progress on reducing family violence against women and children could not be assessed nationally.","source":"pc2026"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-015","theme":"Health, wellbeing and disability","title":"Culturally safe health care and strong ACCHOs","summary":"Many people avoid mainstream health services because they feel judged or unsafe, and some experience care shaped by racist assumptions. Aboriginal community-controlled health organisations provide comprehensive, trusted primary care and are major employers of First Nations people. Their reach is limited by short-term, competitive funding.","ctg_targets":[1,2,14],"priority_reforms":[2,3],"undrip_articles":[21,23,24,31],"sdgs":[3,10],"sjr_recs":[10,14],"measures":["Life expectancy at birth (PC target 1)","Share of First Nations primary health care delivered by ACCHOs","Patient-reported cultural safety in hospitals","First Nations people in the health workforce"],"wathaga_role":"ACCHOs can use Wathaga to report outcomes in their own terms, combining clinical and cultural measures, and to show funders the value of comprehensive care.","evidence":[{"page":"115","point":"NACCHO told the Commission that ACCHOs deliver comprehensive primary care, continuity and cultural safety, which are key to their success.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"125","point":"ACCHOs together employ around 7,000 staff, 54% of them First Nations people, making them the third-largest employer of First Nations people.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"120","point":"Communities described racist assumptions in health care, such as beliefs about higher pain thresholds, that lead to poorer care and avoidance of services.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"110","point":"Five years into the National Agreement only 4 of 19 targets were on track, and community control was a key factor where progress occurred.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"Target 1","point":"Life expectancy gaps were 8.8 years for males and 8.1 for females; improving but not on track.","source":"pc2026"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-016","theme":"Health, wellbeing and disability","title":"Chronic disease and services in regional and remote areas","summary":"Communities outside major centres described having no full-time doctor, midwife or mental health worker, and long trips for treatment without transport or accommodation. Kidney disease and preventable conditions linked to poor housing remain common. Infrastructure, water quality and workforce shortages all contribute.","ctg_targets":[1,9,19],"priority_reforms":[2,3],"undrip_articles":[21,24],"sdgs":[3,6,10],"sjr_recs":[10],"measures":["Communities with a resident or regular GP service","Dialysis places available locally","Acute rheumatic fever notifications in children"],"wathaga_role":"Communities could map service gaps and travel burdens in Wathaga and pair that with health outcomes, giving strong local evidence for need-based funding.","evidence":[{"page":"121","point":"Many communities reported no permanent doctor, maternal care, mental health worker or specialists, and patchy ambulance cover.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"121","point":"People described Elders relying on a single bus for dialysis and having to travel long distances without transport or accommodation for treatment.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"121","point":"Communities raised rheumatic heart disease, largely eliminated elsewhere, as still affecting First Nations children because of unsuitable and overcrowded housing.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-017","theme":"Health, wellbeing and disability","title":"Suicide prevention and social and emotional wellbeing","summary":"Rising deaths by suicide were among the most urgent concerns raised across the country. Racism, removal, incarceration and missing mental health services all feed distress, while culture, connection and community control protect wellbeing. Communities want culturally grounded, locally led supports rather than mainstream services alone.","ctg_targets":[14,18,16],"priority_reforms":[1,2,4],"undrip_articles":[21,24,31],"sdgs":[3,10],"sjr_recs":[16,14,10],"measures":["Suicide rate per 100,000 (PC target 14)","Access to community-controlled social and emotional wellbeing services","Community-defined cultural connection indicators"],"wathaga_role":"Wathaga can carry cultural-determinant indicators that mainstream data systems miss, helping communities show how cultural programs protect wellbeing.","evidence":[{"page":"17","point":"Communities expressed critical concern about the growing number of First Nations people dying by suicide and in custody.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"97","point":"Research cited in the report shows racism increases the risk of mental ill health and suicide among First Peoples.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"120","point":"People named culturally safe counselling, alcohol and drug treatment, rehabilitation on Country and Aboriginal psychologists as critical but missing.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"296","point":"The Mayi Kuwayu longitudinal study, designed with communities, is building evidence that culture is a protective factor for health and wellbeing.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"Target 14","point":"The suicide rate was 33.9 per 100,000 and the target is worsening.","source":"pc2026"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-018","theme":"Health, wellbeing and disability","title":"Disability rights and an NDIS that works for First Peoples","summary":"First Nations people with disability told the Commission the NDIS is complex, inflexible and not built around community life. Planners often lack local and cultural knowledge, and supports such as access to Country can be refused. Rights for First Peoples with disability need both UNDRIP and the Disability Convention to be applied together.","ctg_targets":[1,14,17],"priority_reforms":[2,3],"undrip_articles":[21,22,24],"sdgs":[10,3],"sjr_recs":[7,10],"measures":["First Nations NDIS participants with self- or plan-managed options","First Nations people with disability reporting satisfaction with supports","Registered First Nations disability providers per region"],"wathaga_role":"Disability organisations could use Wathaga to gather accessible feedback (audio, video, photo) from participants, turning lived experience into evidence for NDIS reform.","evidence":[{"page":"113","point":"Participants said the NDIS is hard to navigate, especially with low literacy, and many families felt pushed into agency-managed plans without real choice.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"113","point":"People asked for NDIS planners who know their communities, geography, local services and family caring arrangements.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"131","point":"A carer reported that access to Country, which would greatly help a family member's health, was refused as not reasonable or necessary.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"101","point":"The First Peoples Disability Network argued that UNDRIP alone is not enough and must be implemented alongside the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-019","theme":"Early years, education and learning","title":"Strong starts: early childhood education and development","summary":"Preschool enrolment has grown strongly and the early learning target is on track, but the share of children developmentally on track at school entry is going backwards. Community-led early years services that centre culture and family are effective but often run on fragile funding. Early years outcomes shape later schooling, health and justice outcomes.","ctg_targets":[3,4,2],"priority_reforms":[2,3],"undrip_articles":[14,21,22],"sdgs":[4,3],"sjr_recs":[5,10],"measures":["Preschool enrolment in the year before school (PC target 3)","Children developmentally on track in all five AEDC domains (PC target 4)","Community-controlled early learning places"],"wathaga_role":"Early years services could use Wathaga to hold baselines and track signals of change in child and family wellbeing that sit alongside AEDC results.","evidence":[{"page":"206","point":"Preschool attendance among First Nations children aged 3–5 rose from 31.4% in 2001 to 48.9% in 2021.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"207","point":"Early childhood education enrolment was the education target showing good improvement and on track to be met.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"114","point":"A Queensland community-led early childhood, parenting and family education centre grounded in culture was described as essential but at risk because of inadequate government funding.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"Target 3","point":"Preschool enrolment target met.","source":"pc2026"},{"page":"Target 4","point":"Children assessed as developmentally on track in all five AEDC domains: 33.9%, and worsening.","source":"pc2026"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-020","theme":"Early years, education and learning","title":"Ending disproportionate suspension and exclusion from school","summary":"First Nations students are suspended, excluded and expelled far more often than their share of enrolments, frequently for behaviour linked to trauma or disability. Exclusion increases exposure to policing and youth justice and undermines education targets. Data on exclusion by Indigenous status is patchy across jurisdictions.","ctg_targets":[5,7,11],"priority_reforms":[2,3,4],"undrip_articles":[2,14,21],"sdgs":[4,10],"sjr_recs":[5],"measures":["Suspensions and exclusions per 100 First Nations students, by jurisdiction","Ratio of First Nations to non-Indigenous exclusion rates","Year 12 attainment (PC target 5)"],"wathaga_role":"Wathaga can help community education groups compile school-level exclusion data and family stories, supporting advocacy where official data is missing.","evidence":[{"page":"208","point":"In Queensland in 2019, First Nations students were just over 10% of state school enrolments but received more than a quarter of all fixed-term and permanent exclusions.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"208","point":"In Victoria, First Nations students were 2.3% of enrolments but 6.5% of expulsions.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"208","point":"At the time of the national study only Queensland and Victoria recorded exclusion data by Indigenous status, and there is a clear link between out-of-home care and exclusion.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"207","point":"Students are often suspended or expelled for behaviours linked to trauma or disability, with knock-on effects into child protection and youth justice.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-021","theme":"Early years, education and learning","title":"Culturally safe, Indigenous-led schooling and truth in the curriculum","summary":"Communities want schools that combine strong academic learning with culture, language, Elders and truth-telling, and that meet children's basic needs. Disengagement often reflects hunger, overcrowding or caring duties rather than lack of ability. Indigenous-designed programs show strong retention and completion results.","ctg_targets":[5,7,16,18],"priority_reforms":[2,3],"undrip_articles":[13,14,15],"sdgs":[4,10],"sjr_recs":[5,4],"measures":["Year 12 or equivalent attainment, 20–24 year olds (PC target 5)","Schools with paid Elder or cultural educator programs","Student-reported cultural safety at school"],"wathaga_role":"Wathaga can help schools and communities co-create learning frameworks and capture student voice in many formats, making cultural outcomes visible alongside test results.","evidence":[{"page":"122","point":"Communities asked for two-way learning, Elders in schools, outdoor and on-Country learning and less emphasis on standardised testing.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"122","point":"Young people who disengage from school are often dealing with unmet basic needs such as food, a bed or safety at home.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"124","point":"An Aboriginal secondary training academy co-designed with communities has shown strong results in retention, certificate completion and transitions to further study or work.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"124","point":"Communities want a national curriculum that tells the truth about colonisation and its impacts.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"Target 5","point":"Year 12 or equivalent attainment is improving but not on track.","source":"pc2026"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-022","theme":"Early years, education and learning","title":"Pathways into further education, training and work for young people","summary":"Year 12 completion and post-school qualifications have more than doubled over twenty years, showing what sustained effort achieves. Yet the targets for further education and youth engagement are still not on track. Culturally safe, long-term programs that link school to study and careers are proving their worth.","ctg_targets":[6,7,8],"priority_reforms":[2,3],"undrip_articles":[14,17,21],"sdgs":[4,8],"sjr_recs":[5,8],"measures":["25–34 year olds with Certificate III or above (PC target 6)","15–24 year olds in employment, education or training (PC target 7)","Completion rates in Indigenous-led pathway programs"],"wathaga_role":"Programs can use Wathaga to follow young people's journeys with consent, showing long-term pathway outcomes that short grant reports miss.","evidence":[{"page":"207","point":"Among First Nations adults, Year 12 completion rose from 19.4% in 2001 to 39% in 2021 and non-school qualifications from 19.7% to 46%.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"207","point":"Completion of Certificate III or IV rose from 9.4% in 2001 to 24% in 2021.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"123","point":"A national STEM academy for First Nations girls and young women, delivered with over 85% Indigenous staff, offers mentoring and pathways from Year 8 into careers.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"Target 6","point":"Tertiary qualification attainment is improving but not on track.","source":"pc2026"},{"page":"Target 7","point":"Youth engagement in employment, education or training is improving but not on track.","source":"pc2026"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-023","theme":"Economic participation and self-determination","title":"Secure, culturally safe employment","summary":"Employment has improved and the national target is on track, but rates fall sharply with remoteness and many people are stuck on short contracts tied to government funding cycles. Workplace racism and heavy cultural load push people out of jobs. Community-controlled employment services and culturally safe workplaces help people stay and progress.","ctg_targets":[8,7,18],"priority_reforms":[2,3],"undrip_articles":[17,21],"sdgs":[8,10],"sjr_recs":[14,10],"measures":["Employment rate 25–64 (PC target 8)","Employment rate by remoteness","Share of First Nations staff on fixed-term contracts","Workplace racism reported by First Nations staff"],"wathaga_role":"Employers and ACCOs can use Wathaga to run and track culturally safe workplace measures over time, with staff data governed under Indigenous data sovereignty principles.","evidence":[{"page":"209","point":"In 2022–23 the First Nations employment rate for people aged 15–64 was 57% and unemployment 9.5%, with employment at 58% in cities but 30% in very remote areas.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"125","point":"Many people only get 12–18 month contracts that mirror government program funding, limiting access to housing, superannuation and career growth.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"210","point":"The Indigenous-led Gari Yala survey found many First Nations employees experience workplace racism, exclusion and excessive cultural load.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"209","point":"Indigenous-owned businesses employ First Nations workers at higher rates than other firms.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"Target 8","point":"Employment of 25–64 year olds was 55.7%, on track.","source":"pc2026"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-024","theme":"Economic participation and self-determination","title":"Growing Indigenous business and procurement integrity","summary":"First Nations businesses contribute billions in revenue and wages and employ large numbers of people, and procurement policy has opened markets. But audits show many contracts do not meet mandatory requirements and large contract values are exempted with little explanation. Businesses also face barriers to finance, investment and intergenerational wealth.","ctg_targets":[8],"priority_reforms":[2,3,4],"undrip_articles":[3,20,21],"sdgs":[8,9,10],"sjr_recs":[11],"measures":["Value and share of Commonwealth contracts to Indigenous businesses","Contracts compliant with mandatory minimum requirements (%)","Revenue and employment of First Nations businesses"],"wathaga_role":"Wathaga can help Indigenous enterprise networks evidence social and cultural value created by First Nations businesses, beyond dollars spent.","evidence":[{"page":"213","point":"First Nations businesses generate about $16 billion a year in revenue, employ over 116,000 people and pay $4.2 billion in wages.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"213","point":"The Indigenous Procurement Policy sets a minimum target of 3% of contracts to Indigenous businesses, rising to 4% by 2029–30.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"214","point":"An audit found 28% of contracts were not compliant with minimum mandatory requirements at June 2024, and 1,475 contracts worth $69.3 billion were exempted between 2016 and 2024, often for unclear reasons.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"214","point":"First Nations businesses face low intergenerational wealth transfer, bias in investment and barriers to accessing capital.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-025","theme":"Economic participation and self-determination","title":"Stopping black cladding and protecting Indigenous identity in funding","summary":"Black cladding happens when non-Indigenous businesses or organisations use token Indigenous involvement to win contracts or grants meant for First Peoples. It diverts money, undermines genuine Indigenous enterprises and ACCOs and erodes trust. A parliamentary inquiry recommended clearer definitions, monitoring and penalties.","ctg_targets":[8],"priority_reforms":[2,3],"undrip_articles":[3,4,33],"sdgs":[8,16],"sjr_recs":[10,11],"measures":["Complaints of black cladding investigated and resolved","Share of First Nations-targeted funding to verified community-controlled organisations"],"wathaga_role":"Wathaga's ownership and governance records for organisations can support transparent, community-verified information about who is genuinely community-controlled.","evidence":[{"page":"214","point":"A 2024 parliamentary inquiry into economic self-determination heard many concerns that non-Indigenous businesses exploit dedicated First Nations programs such as procurement policy.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"215","point":"The inquiry recommended reviewing the definition of an Indigenous business, investigating black cladding and introducing tougher monitoring and penalties.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"288","point":"Reviewers heard of non-Indigenous organisations restructuring boards to appear community-controlled in order to retain funding.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"141","point":"Communities raised concerns that false claims of identity and token involvement divert opportunities from those entitled to them.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-026","theme":"Economic participation and self-determination","title":"Economic self-determination and fiscal autonomy","summary":"Australia has no policy or legal framework for Indigenous fiscal self-government, unlike some comparable countries. Political voice without economic power leaves rights fragile, so First Nations leaders are calling for a shift from welfare-focused policy to wealth creation, backed by land, water, sea and intellectual property reform. Indigenous-specific spending is also a small fraction of the national budget.","ctg_targets":[8,15],"priority_reforms":[1,2],"undrip_articles":[3,4,20,26,39],"sdgs":[8,10,17],"sjr_recs":[10,15,2],"measures":["Share of Indigenous-specific funding under First Nations-governed allocation","First Nations-held assets and capital under community control","Regional agreements with pooled, flexible funding"],"wathaga_role":"Kowa's UMEL approach, supported by Wathaga, helps economic bodies set a theory of change, signals of change and baselines they own, so transformation is measured by community-defined success.","evidence":[{"page":"286","point":"The report identifies the absence of any framework for Indigenous fiscal self-government in Australia, in contrast to Canada.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"287","point":"Indigenous-specific Commonwealth spending in 2023–24 was estimated at $5.3 billion, about 0.77% of total budgeted expenditure.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"215","point":"A national seminar series called for a shift from welfare and simple industry participation to policy that underpins sustainable First Nations wealth creation, including water, sea country and cultural IP reform.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"194","point":"In Aotearoa New Zealand, treaty settlements helped grow the Māori asset base to about NZ$126 billion.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-027","theme":"Economic participation and self-determination","title":"Redress for stolen wages","summary":"From roughly the 1880s to the 1960s many First Peoples' wages and entitlements were withheld, paid in rations or held in trust accounts they could not access. Some state schemes have operated, but none met international standards for adequate reparation, and class actions have filled the gap. Several jurisdictions still have no scheme.","ctg_targets":[8,18],"priority_reforms":[3],"undrip_articles":[17,28,40],"sdgs":[8,10,16],"sjr_recs":[6,3],"measures":["Jurisdictions with an operating stolen wages reparation scheme","Claims lodged and paid, and value paid against estimated loss"],"wathaga_role":"Wathaga could help family history and truth-telling groups organise records and testimony securely, under family control.","evidence":[{"page":"211","point":"Wages of countless First Peoples were unpaid, underpaid, paid in rations or placed in inaccessible trusts from about the 1880s to the 1960s, and benefits such as pensions were also withheld.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"211","point":"Reparation schemes ran in Queensland (2002–2009), NSW (2005–2011) and WA (2012), but none addressed UN principles on adequate reparation.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"211","point":"A $190 million Queensland class action superseded a criticised $21 million scheme, against an estimated $500 million owed in that state; an NT class action settled in 2024 for up to $180 million.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-028","theme":"Housing, infrastructure and essential services","title":"Safe, healthy housing and ending overcrowding","summary":"Communities describe deteriorating houses, mould, long waiting lists and homes unsuited to large families, extreme climates or people with disability. Poor housing drives illness, family stress and contact with child protection and justice systems. People want dignity and liveable homes and more transparency in how housing money is spent.","ctg_targets":[9,1,12,19],"priority_reforms":[1,2,4],"undrip_articles":[21,23],"sdgs":[11,1,3,13],"sjr_recs":[10],"measures":["People in appropriately sized housing (PC target 9a)","Households with functioning health hardware (water, waste, cooking)","Average wait time for repairs in community housing"],"wathaga_role":"Tenants and housing organisations could log repairs, photos and outcomes in Wathaga, giving communities shared evidence on housing condition and responsiveness.","evidence":[{"page":"118","point":"People reported living in tents or unsafe homes because of shortages, and asked for houses suited to multigenerational families, Elders, people with disability and people leaving prison or escaping violence.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"118","point":"Homes are deteriorating through underfunding and poor maintenance, with mould common and people afraid to report problems for fear of eviction.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"119","point":"In remote regions housing is often poorly designed for the climate.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"120","point":"Communities reported a lack of transparency and accountability in how housing resources are allocated.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"Target 9","point":"People living in appropriately sized (not overcrowded) housing: improving but not on track.","source":"pc2026"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-029","theme":"Housing, infrastructure and essential services","title":"Ending homelessness with culturally safe crisis support","summary":"Homelessness, including rough sleeping, is linked to overcrowding, family violence and release from prison, and mainstream shelters often exclude people with complex needs. Locally led, culturally safe services that take people as they are have proven a trusted entry point to housing and health care. Lack of a stable address also drives remand and blocks access to services.","ctg_targets":[9,10,13],"priority_reforms":[2],"undrip_articles":[21,23],"sdgs":[11,1],"sjr_recs":[10],"measures":["First Nations people accessing specialist homelessness services","People exiting prison into homelessness","Funded Aboriginal-run crisis beds"],"wathaga_role":"Wathaga can help low-barrier services capture outcomes respectfully and simply, giving them evidence for ongoing funding without adding heavy reporting load.","evidence":[{"page":"119","point":"A community-led overnight shelter run by an Aboriginal corporation succeeds because it is local, flexible, trauma-informed and does not turn people away for intoxication or complex behaviour.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"118","point":"Communities said legal, housing and tenancy advocacy is often out of reach, leaving people desperate where violence, eviction or incarceration is involved.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"397","point":"Experts link the housing crisis to rising remand, since people without secure accommodation are more likely to be refused bail.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-030","theme":"Housing, infrastructure and essential services","title":"Essential services and community infrastructure in remote areas","summary":"Many remote communities face chronic underinvestment in water, power, transport, emergency services and telecommunications. Prepaid power runs out, water may need to be shipped in, and after-hours police or health staff may not exist, leaving communities to manage emergencies themselves. Climate change is making these gaps worse.","ctg_targets":[19,9,1,17],"priority_reforms":[1,2,4],"undrip_articles":[21,23,32],"sdgs":[6,7,9,11],"sjr_recs":[10,15],"measures":["Communities meeting drinking water quality guidelines","Prepaid power disconnections per household","Communities with reliable mobile and emergency call coverage"],"wathaga_role":"Wathaga can let communities record service outages and infrastructure condition over time, building the record they need to negotiate with governments and utilities.","evidence":[{"page":"111","point":"Communities continue to face chronic underinvestment in housing, clean water, electricity, transport and digital connectivity, most acutely in remote areas.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"112","point":"In remote island communities visited, power depended on unaffordable prepaid cards or diesel generators, water was shipped in, and there were no after-hours police or clinic staff.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"112","point":"Telecommunications were so unreliable that emergency calls were regularly unavailable, and the regional council risked insolvency despite lobbying for funding.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"98","point":"Where First Peoples live shapes the price of food and fuel and access to clean drinking water, rubbish collection, postal and legal services.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-031","theme":"Housing, infrastructure and essential services","title":"Digital inclusion and access to services","summary":"Services are increasingly online, cashless and identity-heavy, which shuts out people without reliable internet, devices or documents. Communities described being unable to get a driver's licence or working with children check, and relying on a few community members to deal with Centrelink and housing. National progress on digital inclusion cannot yet be measured.","ctg_targets":[17,19,8],"priority_reforms":[2,4],"undrip_articles":[16,21],"sdgs":[9,4,10],"sjr_recs":[10],"measures":["First Nations digital inclusion index score (PC target 17)","Communities with free public Wi-Fi","People reporting they could not access a service because it was online-only"],"wathaga_role":"Wathaga accepts many data types (photo, video, documents), so it can be configured for low-connectivity, low-literacy use and help close, rather than widen, the digital gap.","evidence":[{"page":"98","point":"Lack of internet, cashless systems and strict ID rules stop people getting basic documents such as licences and working with children checks, which affects jobs, cultural obligations and justice outcomes.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"98","point":"People in remote communities often depend on individual community members to navigate Centrelink and housing because local services are absent.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"113","point":"People asked for services that do not depend on internet access or complex paperwork.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"Target 17","point":"Progress on digital inclusion could not be assessed.","source":"pc2026"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-032","theme":"Housing, infrastructure and essential services","title":"Needs-based services across regional, remote and urban communities","summary":"Funding for First Nations programs is often allocated by remoteness rather than need, so high-need regional and urban communities can miss out. Urban and regional voices also feel excluded from national dialogue. Communities want resource allocation based on evidence of need and local priorities.","ctg_targets":[19,9,1,8],"priority_reforms":[1,4],"undrip_articles":[18,21,23],"sdgs":[10,11],"sjr_recs":[10,11],"measures":["Per-capita First Nations-specific funding by remoteness and need","Regions with access to regional-level Closing the Gap data"],"wathaga_role":"Wathaga can combine public datasets with local data so each region can produce its own needs profile and make the case for fair allocation.","evidence":[{"page":"98","point":"Communities nationally called for resources based on need rather than remoteness, and for support for regional, remote and urban communities alike.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"99","point":"Some communities miss critical investment because they are not classified as remote, and urban First Nations people feel left out of national dialogue.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"129","point":"Participants proposed that funding decisions be grounded in data and community-identified need, not geography alone.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-037","theme":"Land, waters, heritage and climate","title":"Fair native title compensation","summary":"Recent court decisions have opened the way to compensation for loss of native title, including cultural loss, but there is no national approach. Litigation is slow and costly, and governments hold many of the records claimants need. A negotiated national framework and a compensation fund are being proposed.","ctg_targets":[15,8],"priority_reforms":[1,3],"undrip_articles":[28,32,40],"sdgs":[16,10],"sjr_recs":[21,24],"measures":["Compensation claims lodged, settled and average time to settlement","Jurisdictions with a compensation fund"],"wathaga_role":"Claimant groups could use Wathaga to organise evidence of cultural loss securely and under their own control.","evidence":[{"page":"133","point":"Court decisions have now enlivened access to native title compensation, and the national native title peak is developing a framework for negotiated settlements.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"469","point":"The report suggests a compensation fund, methods for valuing cultural loss, protection from unethical practitioners and timely government release of records.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"31","point":"Compensation has been inadequate or absent, only recently activated through a High Court decision.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-033","theme":"Land, waters, heritage and climate","title":"Reforming native title to deliver land justice","summary":"Native title has delivered some recognition but is limited in scope, vulnerable to extinguishment and demands proof of continuous connection that ignores the impact of colonisation. Claimants carry heavy costs, power imbalances and weak procedural rights, with no veto over harmful projects. The report calls for reform consistent with human rights standards.","ctg_targets":[15],"priority_reforms":[1,3],"undrip_articles":[25,26,27,28,32],"sdgs":[15,16,10],"sjr_recs":[21,22,24],"measures":["Land and sea under native title or other Indigenous rights (PC targets 15a, 15b)","Average time to determination","Future acts proceeding with documented FPIC"],"wathaga_role":"Traditional Owner groups could use Wathaga to document their own measures of land justice—access, authority and cultural practice—beyond area statistics.","evidence":[{"page":"461","point":"There were 652 native title determinations on the national register by 30 June 2025, including 124 where native title was found not to exist.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"133","point":"Communities described the burden of proving continuous connection as unfair, costly and blind to the effects of colonisation.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"135","point":"People said native title offers no veto, requires only good-faith negotiation from proponents and lacks consequences for non-compliance.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"31","point":"The system is described as limited in scope, open to extinguishment, poorly resourced and reliant on the unpaid work of First Nations people.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"Target 15","point":"Land and sea rights targets are on track.","source":"pc2026"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-034","theme":"Land, waters, heritage and climate","title":"Resourcing Prescribed Bodies Corporate","summary":"Prescribed Bodies Corporate hold and manage native title but are expected to do so with little or no reliable funding. Traditional Owners often end up using compensation or royalties to pay for basic participation in the system, and PBCs must follow corporate law rather than traditional law. Governments have agreed in principle to an independent PBC fund but not delivered it.","ctg_targets":[15,8,14],"priority_reforms":[2],"undrip_articles":[4,26,32,39],"sdgs":[15,16,8],"sjr_recs":[23],"measures":["PBCs with secure core operational funding","PBCs with a current community-endorsed plan","Share of PBC costs met from compensation or royalties"],"wathaga_role":"PBCs can use Wathaga to set and track benefit-sharing and Country-care indicators their members agree on, strengthening internal accountability and external funding cases.","evidence":[{"page":"470","point":"The Commission recommends an independent PBC operating fund guaranteed in perpetuity, plus resources for community healing and empowerment roles.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"470","point":"Traditional Owners should not have to spend royalties, compensation or future act payments to fund their engagement in the native title system.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"132","point":"Communities said PBCs must comply with corporate and native title law rather than traditional law and custom, and some lack plans or capacity to share benefits.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"477","point":"The Australian Government agreed in principle to a parliamentary recommendation for an independent PBC fund with contributions from governments and proponents.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-035","theme":"Land, waters, heritage and climate","title":"Cultural heritage protection and FPIC","summary":"The destruction of the 46,000-year-old caves at Juukan Gorge in 2020 exposed how weak heritage laws are, with ministerial discretion, gag clauses and little ability for Traditional Owners to stop damage. UN bodies have found Australia failed to seek free, prior and informed consent in heritage reform. Federal reform has been promised but remains incomplete.","ctg_targets":[15,16],"priority_reforms":[1,3],"undrip_articles":[11,12,19,31,32],"sdgs":[11,15,16],"sjr_recs":[25,24],"measures":["Heritage approvals granted without documented FPIC","Agreements containing gag clauses","Recorded damage or destruction of significant sites"],"wathaga_role":"Wathaga can provide Traditional Owners with secure, access-controlled records of heritage monitoring that remain their cultural and intellectual property.","evidence":[{"page":"475","point":"The 2020 destruction of the 46,000-year-old Juukan Gorge rock shelters, with state authorisation, brought heritage law reform into national focus.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"474","point":"Federal and state heritage regimes rely on ministerial discretion, weak enforcement and consultation that falls short of FPIC.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"476","point":"The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination found governments failed to seek FPIC and to protect Aboriginal heritage; governments had not responded at the time of writing.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"478","point":"One state's heritage law review, begun in 2019, had still not been completed.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"134","point":"Communities supported the Dhawura Ngilan framework for national standards that centre Traditional Owner authority.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-036","theme":"Land, waters, heritage and climate","title":"Water rights and cultural flows","summary":"Water is central to caring for Country, yet water laws mostly serve agriculture and industry and give little recognition to cultural flows or Indigenous water rights. Even where native title exists over rivers, holders may still need permission to take water. Access to water for economic use is also key to unlocking land-based enterprise.","ctg_targets":[15,8],"priority_reforms":[1,3],"undrip_articles":[25,26,32],"sdgs":[6,14,15],"sjr_recs":[21,24],"measures":["Water entitlements held by First Nations entities (volume and share)","Water plans with cultural flow provisions"],"wathaga_role":"Wathaga can store cultural and scientific water monitoring data together under Traditional Owner governance, supporting claims for cultural flows.","evidence":[{"page":"131","point":"Communities stressed that water allocations must provide cultural flows so people can meet their responsibilities to keep water Country healthy.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"480","point":"Water management laws generally prioritise agricultural and industrial use, with only limited recognition of cultural flows or Indigenous water rights.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"132","point":"One participant explained that despite native title over rivers, they still had to ask the council for water.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"215","point":"Economic reform proposals include freshwater reform to increase First Peoples' access to water licensed for economic purposes.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-038","theme":"Land, waters, heritage and climate","title":"Harmonising land rights, co-management and intersecting regimes","summary":"Native title, state land rights, heritage, environmental, planning and resource laws overlap and conflict, leaving First Peoples' rights at the bottom of the hierarchy. Proponents can choose the most convenient regime, while Traditional Owners often participate unpaid. Pastoral leases covering nearly half the continent constrain custodianship.","ctg_targets":[15,16],"priority_reforms":[1,3],"undrip_articles":[26,27,29,32],"sdgs":[15,16],"sjr_recs":[24,21,25],"measures":["Outstanding land rights claims and average age","Protected areas under joint or Traditional Owner management"],"wathaga_role":"Wathaga can help Traditional Owner groups keep a single record of obligations, agreements and decisions across multiple regimes.","evidence":[{"page":"472","point":"Fragmented and overlapping land, heritage and resource regimes constrain First Peoples' authority and perpetuate dispossession.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"473","point":"Land rights schemes usually give stronger title than native title but coverage is patchy, and co-management limits Indigenous authority.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"480","point":"Pastoral leases cover nearly half the continent and in practice usually override native title interests.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"481","point":"Governments and companies can choose the most convenient regime, while First Peoples often take unpaid leave to take part.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"131","point":"Communities reported land claims under state land rights law waiting years, with high legal costs.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-039","theme":"Land, waters, heritage and climate","title":"Climate justice for Country and communities","summary":"First Peoples have the smallest carbon footprint yet face some of the worst impacts of climate change, from heat and floods to rising seas threatening island homes and burial grounds. A UN committee found Australia breached its obligations to Torres Strait Islanders, and domestic legal action has not succeeded. Communities want a lead role in climate responses and adaptation.","ctg_targets":[15,19,1,16],"priority_reforms":[1,3],"undrip_articles":[8,25,29,32],"sdgs":[13,14,15,11],"sjr_recs":[21,25],"measures":["Funding committed for First Nations-led climate adaptation","Cultural sites at risk from sea-level rise and protected","Ranger and caring-for-Country positions"],"wathaga_role":"Wathaga can host community climate observation records—photos, seasonal knowledge, site condition—under Indigenous data governance, informing adaptation planning.","evidence":[{"page":"481","point":"First Peoples bear some of the greatest climate impacts despite the smallest carbon footprint, on top of existing inequities including poverty for at least a third of the population.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"32","point":"In 2022 the UN Human Rights Committee found Australia had violated its obligation to act on climate change to the detriment of Torres Strait Islanders; the government declined compensation.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"135","point":"People described heat, floods and storms damaging land, food sources and sacred sites, and rising seas threatening island burial grounds and causing fear of relocation.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"136","point":"Torres Strait Islander leaders' Masig Statement calls for climate action, recognition and self-determination over their islands' future.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-040","theme":"Culture, language and healing","title":"Language revitalisation","summary":"Of at least 250 languages spoken at colonisation, around 123 were in use in 2020 and only 12 were spoken fluently across all generations. Language carries identity, Law and knowledge of Country, and revival strengthens wellbeing. Community-led revitalisation is working but needs sustained support.","ctg_targets":[16,14,15],"priority_reforms":[2],"undrip_articles":[13,14,16,31],"sdgs":[4,11],"sjr_recs":[16],"measures":["Number and strength of languages spoken (PC target 16)","Funded language workers and centres","Schools teaching a local First Nations language"],"wathaga_role":"Wathaga's support for audio and video makes it suitable for community-controlled language records, with access rules set by language owners as part of their ICIP.","evidence":[{"page":"348","point":"At colonisation there were at least 250 distinct languages and around 800 dialects; in 2020 about 123 were in use and only 12 were spoken fluently by all generations in a community.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"350","point":"Community-led revitalisation projects, including technology-supported first language platforms, are reconnecting people to heritage.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"472","point":"Language revival is inseparable from land justice because dispossession disrupted language transmission.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"Target 16","point":"Progress on the number and strength of languages spoken could not be assessed.","source":"pc2026"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-041","theme":"Culture, language and healing","title":"Cultural authority, nation building and restorative justice","summary":"Colonisation fractured community cohesion, undermined Elders and displaced Indigenous Law. Communities see rebuilding cultural authority, kinship and collective responsibility as their own business, including through nation building, peacemaking and healing. Governments' role is to fund and enable, not direct.","ctg_targets":[16,14,10,11,13],"priority_reforms":[1,2],"undrip_articles":[3,4,5,34,35],"sdgs":[16,11],"sjr_recs":[16,1],"measures":["Funding for community-led cultural governance and nation-building","Communities with recognised local decision-making bodies","Restorative justice and peacemaking programs operating"],"wathaga_role":"Kowa's learning-partnership model uses Wathaga to support communities to learn and do the work themselves, with support intense early and reducing over time.","evidence":[{"page":"27","point":"The report sets out pathways to rebuild the village through cultural revival, language, restorative justice, nation building and truth-telling.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"28","point":"Conditions for rebuilding include self-determination, reconnection to Country and community, managing conflict through Indigenous Law and nation building for self-governance.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"138","point":"Communities described rebuilding the village as their business, grounded in returning to values and Law and recognising everyone's role.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"434","point":"Locally established peacemaking, community courts and law and justice groups are part of community-led efforts that have reduced offending.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-042","theme":"Culture, language and healing","title":"Healing and redress for Stolen Generations survivors","summary":"Forced removal caused lasting individual and collective trauma that continues to affect descendants. Redress schemes now exist in most jurisdictions but differ widely, and one state has yet to provide formal reparations. Healing organisations call for survivor-designed redress, healing funding and support for reconnection.","ctg_targets":[14,16,12],"priority_reforms":[2,3],"undrip_articles":[7,8,11,40],"sdgs":[16,3],"sjr_recs":[16,3],"measures":["Jurisdictions with a survivor redress scheme","Survivors receiving redress and healing support","Survivors in culturally safe aged care"],"wathaga_role":"Healing organisations could use Wathaga to record survivor-defined healing outcomes respectfully, with strict consent and access controls.","evidence":[{"page":"346","point":"The Healing Foundation identified urgent actions including a survivor-informed redress scheme for living and deceased survivors and their descendants, and funding for healing.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"406","point":"Most jurisdictions have established redress schemes with different rules and support, while Queensland had yet to provide formal reparations.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"405","point":"Stolen Generations survivors and their descendants are more likely to be incarcerated than other First Nations people.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"347","point":"For some survivors full reconnection may never be possible, so rebuilding must allow for different paths to belonging.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-043","theme":"Voice, treaty, truth and participation","title":"A national representative voice after the 2023 referendum","summary":"The 2023 referendum did not pass, but communities say it did not end the need for a voice or diminish their rights. Since earlier national bodies were abolished there has been no formal national structure for First Peoples to set priorities together. Legislated bodies remain vulnerable to repeal, so independence and secure funding matter.","ctg_targets":[17,18],"priority_reforms":[1],"undrip_articles":[3,4,5,18,19],"sdgs":[16,10],"sjr_recs":[2,8],"measures":["Existence of an independent, legislated national representative body","Representative body funding source and term","Government responses to the body's advice published"],"wathaga_role":"Wathaga can give representative bodies a transparent record of community input and of how governments respond, reinforcing accountability.","evidence":[{"page":"102","point":"The referendum result was 39.94% Yes and 60.06% No.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"21","point":"There is no formal national structure for collective First Nations engagement on priorities; previous bodies included ATSIC and the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"205","point":"The report argues a national representative mechanism is needed to carry forward Voice, Treaty and Truth and to provide the independent accountability called for in Closing the Gap.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"187","point":"Even legislated funding for state representative bodies is vulnerable when political will changes.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-044","theme":"Voice, treaty, truth and participation","title":"Makarrata Commission and national truth-telling","summary":"The Commonwealth committed to a Makarrata Commission for truth-telling and agreement-making but has not delivered it. Communities are pursuing local truth-telling, sometimes in fear after state processes were dismantled. A national process should be First Peoples-led, linked to justice and redress, and paired with public education and healing.","ctg_targets":[18,16,15],"priority_reforms":[1,3],"undrip_articles":[8,11,15,28,37,40],"sdgs":[16,4],"sjr_recs":[3,4],"measures":["Makarrata Commission established and funded","Local truth-telling projects supported","Public understanding of First Nations history (reconciliation surveys)"],"wathaga_role":"Wathaga can help communities hold testimonies, records and media from local truth-telling under their own protocols and data sovereignty.","evidence":[{"page":"204","point":"Despite commitments and budget funding for a Makarrata Commission, the Australian Government had not delivered it.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"205","point":"The report sets out that national truth-telling should be legislated, First Peoples-led, culturally safe, coupled to redress, linked to public education and underpinned by data sovereignty.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"205","point":"No dedicated funding supported First Peoples to heal from racism during the referendum.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"108","point":"Elders in one community planned to continue local truth-telling after the state process was repealed, though they feared police intervention.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-045","theme":"Voice, treaty, truth and participation","title":"Treaty processes in the states and territories","summary":"Victoria passed a statewide treaty law and signed a treaty in late 2025, showing what sustained processes can achieve. Elsewhere, processes have stalled or been repealed, as in Queensland in 2024, while NSW has begun engagement. Communities see treaty as the ultimate goal but doubt governments will keep commitments without legal safeguards.","ctg_targets":[17,15,16],"priority_reforms":[1],"undrip_articles":[3,18,19,37],"sdgs":[16],"sjr_recs":[3,2],"measures":["Jurisdictions with an active, legislated treaty process","Treaties or agreements signed","Funding for First Nations negotiating capacity"],"wathaga_role":"Treaty bodies could use Wathaga to monitor treaty commitments with indicators set by their communities.","evidence":[{"page":"189","point":"Victoria's Statewide Treaty Act passed on 30 October 2025 and the treaty was signed on 13 November 2025.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"191","point":"Queensland's Path to Treaty process reached phase 4 of 5 before the incoming government repealed its enabling law in late 2024.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"192","point":"NSW appointed Treaty Commissioners to run a 12-month engagement process with Aboriginal communities.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"108","point":"Communities called treaty the ultimate goal but questioned whether governments would negotiate and deliver in good faith.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-046","theme":"Voice, treaty, truth and participation","title":"Free, prior and informed consent and a participation duty","summary":"Australia's democratic processes do not reliably ensure First Peoples are heard, and major policies such as the NT Intervention and cashless debit card were imposed without adequate consultation. FPIC requires that people can say yes or no, with full information and time, through institutions they choose. A legislated participation duty would make this standard practice.","ctg_targets":[17,15],"priority_reforms":[1,3],"undrip_articles":[18,19,32],"sdgs":[16,10],"sjr_recs":[7,13],"measures":["Laws and programs with a documented FPIC process","Existence of a legislated participation duty"],"wathaga_role":"Wathaga already applies FPIC to data collection; it can extend this to record consultation and consent decisions, making influence on decisions visible.","evidence":[{"page":"172","point":"The report sets out FPIC as free from pressure, sought before activity starts, fully informed and respecting the right to say yes or no through chosen institutions.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"173","point":"A participation duty would legally require public authorities to involve affected people in designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating decisions that affect their rights.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"174","point":"The NT Intervention, the 2015 remote employment program and the cashless debit card are cited as policies imposed without adequate consultation.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-047","theme":"Voice, treaty, truth and participation","title":"First Peoples in domestic and international human rights forums","summary":"UN mechanisms give First Peoples a direct way to raise concerns, and many UN review recommendations to Australia relate to First Peoples. Participation is supported by some funding but barriers remain, especially for young advocates. The report recommends funding self-determined participation and a human rights network.","ctg_targets":[17,7],"priority_reforms":[1],"undrip_articles":[5,18,41,42],"sdgs":[16,17],"sjr_recs":[8,7],"measures":["First Nations delegates funded to attend UN mechanisms","Young advocates trained"],"wathaga_role":"Wathaga can help advocates assemble community evidence for international reporting, while communities keep ownership of their data.","evidence":[{"page":"24","point":"As of January 2026, 234 of 1,122 Universal Periodic Review recommendations to Australia related to First Peoples.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"174","point":"Support such as UN voluntary funds and DFAT fellowships has helped more representatives attend UN meetings, but barriers remain.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"421","point":"In the absence of domestic remedies, international complaints are often the only recourse for First Peoples.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-048","theme":"Human rights and anti-racism","title":"A national Human Rights Act","summary":"Australia has no national human rights law, so protections are inconsistent, fragile and easy to override. Compatibility statements are often weak and some jurisdictions have removed or knowingly overridden rights protections. A Human Rights Act would require government to act compatibly with rights and give people a remedy when they are breached.","ctg_targets":[18,10,11],"priority_reforms":[3],"undrip_articles":[1,38,40,43],"sdgs":[16,10],"sjr_recs":[7,13],"measures":["Federal Human Rights Act in force","Bills with compatibility statements assessing UNDRIP","Laws passed with declared incompatibility or override"],"wathaga_role":"Communities could use Wathaga to document rights impacts of laws in their area, building evidence for compatibility scrutiny and legal remedies.","evidence":[{"page":"23","point":"Without a national framework and legislation, First Peoples face inconsistent recognition of rights and limited remedies, and existing protections can be overridden by parliaments.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"422","point":"Statements of compatibility are often of poor quality and do not require assessment against UNDRIP; a Human Rights Act would oblige agencies to consider and act compatibly with rights.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"413","point":"One state introduced youth justice laws with a statement expressly acknowledging they were incompatible with children's rights.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"298","point":"In late 2024 the NT Parliament removed the requirement for human rights compatibility statements with new bills.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-049","theme":"Human rights and anti-racism","title":"Implementing UNDRIP in law and policy","summary":"Australia endorsed UNDRIP in 2009 but has not built it into law, and has been criticised for using rights language without acting on it. Parliamentary inquiries recommended a national plan and changes to scrutiny law, but these have not been actioned. Communities want UNDRIP implemented with consequences and a monitoring framework.","ctg_targets":[17,18],"priority_reforms":[3],"undrip_articles":[38,42,43],"sdgs":[16],"sjr_recs":[7,13,1],"measures":["National UNDRIP plan adopted and funded","Cabinet submissions assessed against UNDRIP","Laws audited against UNDRIP"],"wathaga_role":"Wathaga's mapping of outcomes to UNDRIP articles can help organisations and communities report practical UNDRIP implementation.","evidence":[{"page":"24","point":"Parliamentary inquiries reporting in November 2023 and May 2024 recommended stronger rights protections and UNDRIP implementation, but recommendations had not been responded to.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"99","point":"Communities called for UNDRIP to be embedded in legislation with enforceable consequences.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"101","point":"Participants called for an audit of all laws against UNDRIP and supported adding UNDRIP to the definition of human rights in federal scrutiny law.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"297","point":"The report describes rights ritualism: endorsing rights in principle while resisting the changes they require.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-050","theme":"Human rights and anti-racism","title":"Ending racism: the National Anti-Racism Framework","summary":"More than half of First Nations people report recent racism, up sharply over a decade, and the referendum period saw a surge of abuse. Racism harms mental health and limits access to services, work and justice. The Commission released a National Anti-Racism Framework in 2024, which communities want governments to adopt.","ctg_targets":[18,14],"priority_reforms":[3],"undrip_articles":[2,8,15,16],"sdgs":[10,16],"sjr_recs":[14,4,20],"measures":["First Nations people reporting racism in last six months","Institutions with an independent anti-racism audit","Racism complaints lodged and resolved"],"wathaga_role":"Wathaga can support community racism reporting and institutional audits with community-set indicators, while protecting people who report.","evidence":[{"page":"198","point":"In the 2024 Reconciliation Barometer, 54% of First Nations people reported experiencing racism in the previous six months, up from 39% in 2014.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"198","point":"Nearly one in five reports to a national racism register over 2023–24 linked the abuse to the referendum.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"97","point":"People said making a racism complaint can be costly, for example in sport, and called for real consequences rather than apologies.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"308","point":"The Commission released the National Anti-Racism Framework in 2024 after consultation with First Peoples and other communities.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"307","point":"The framework calls for external audits of institutions, a positive duty to prevent racism and mandatory measures.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-051","theme":"Human rights and anti-racism","title":"Accurate and responsible media reporting","summary":"Media coverage of youth crime often sensationalises and racialises offending, leaves out young people's voices and omits data showing crime falling in some places. This coverage feeds punitive law changes. Communities want media rules and training that support accurate, respectful reporting.","ctg_targets":[11,18],"priority_reforms":[3],"undrip_articles":[15,16],"sdgs":[16,10],"sjr_recs":[20],"measures":["Media complaints upheld relating to First Nations reporting","Journalists trained under a youth justice code"],"wathaga_role":"Wathaga can publish community-endorsed data summaries that give journalists accurate, strengths-based context.","evidence":[{"page":"412","point":"A study of 173 news articles from early 2023 found coverage overwhelmingly pushed for harsher punishment, with young people's voices absent.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"435","point":"Reporting often frames youth offending as an Indigenous problem rather than a consequence of structural inequality affecting all communities.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"436","point":"Crisis reporting often omits data showing that youth crime and recidivism are falling in some jurisdictions and that a small group accounts for much offending.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"143","point":"Communities called for greater media regulation and profiling of positive stories to challenge deficit views.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-052","theme":"Accountability, funding and data sovereignty","title":"Closing the Gap accountability and independent oversight","summary":"Five years into the National Agreement only a handful of targets are on track and several are going backwards. Reviews found public sector accountability badly lacking, with responsibility shifted between levels of government, and decades of inquiry recommendations remain unimplemented. Communities are tired of retelling their stories and want transparent, independent tracking of what governments promised.","ctg_targets":[17],"priority_reforms":[1,3,4],"undrip_articles":[18,38,40,42],"sdgs":[16,17],"sjr_recs":[9,15,1],"measures":["Targets on track (PC dashboard)","Priority Reform 3 indicators","Independent mechanism operating in each jurisdiction","Reports receiving a formal government response within six months"],"wathaga_role":"This is Wathaga's core use: a community-facing scorecard that links commitments, targets and community-defined measures, so accountability runs to communities.","evidence":[{"page":"110","point":"Only 4 of 19 targets were on track five years into the National Agreement, with some going backwards.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"111","point":"There had been little movement on Priority Reform 3 or the independent monitoring mechanism committed to under the Agreement.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"26","point":"Reviews by the Productivity Commission and Jumbunna Institute found public sector accountability severely lacking, with responsibility handballed across the federation.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"127","point":"Communities asked for dashboards or community scorecards showing what has been promised, what is underway and what remains.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"292","point":"Most recommendations from decades of royal commissions, inquiries and reviews remain only partially implemented or unaddressed.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"15","point":"Governments have routinely ignored or selectively responded to Social Justice Commissioner recommendations; the report seeks a formal public response.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-053","theme":"Accountability, funding and data sovereignty","title":"Transparent audits of Indigenous expenditure","summary":"Most spending on First Nations people flows through mainstream programs and non-Indigenous providers, with little transparency about outcomes. Calls to audit spending have often targeted cultural practices rather than the full budget. A meaningful audit would test returns on both Indigenous-specific and mainstream spending against community priorities.","ctg_targets":[17],"priority_reforms":[1,3,4],"undrip_articles":[38,39],"sdgs":[16,17],"sjr_recs":[11,10],"measures":["Publication of annual Indigenous expenditure reports","Share of spending delivered through community-controlled organisations"],"wathaga_role":"Communities could combine regional spending data with local outcomes in Wathaga to test value for money on their own terms.","evidence":[{"page":"287","point":"In 2015–16 governments spent about $33.4 billion on First Nations people, around 6% of national spending, of which $6 billion was Indigenous-specific and $27.4 billion the Indigenous share of mainstream programs.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"287","point":"Audits have too often focused on cultural practices rather than Treasury and Cabinet decisions and the whole of spending.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"292","point":"Proposals for a new royal commission costing at least $50 million focused on about $450,000 spent on Welcome to Country, rather than acting on what existing expenditure reports already show.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"310","point":"The report proposes annual Indigenous Expenditure Reports tabled in Parliament with recommendations acted on.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-054","theme":"Accountability, funding and data sovereignty","title":"Needs-based, long-term funding for ACCOs","summary":"Community-controlled organisations deliver across every outcome but are funded through short, competitive, target-based grants that rarely include evaluation. Small ACCOs struggle to compete with large mainstream providers, and heavy reporting diverts time from services. A national framework with needs-based, direct, long-term funding is recommended.","ctg_targets":[17],"priority_reforms":[2,1],"undrip_articles":[4,21,39],"sdgs":[17,10],"sjr_recs":[10,16],"measures":["Share of First Nations-specific funding to ACCOs","Average funding agreement length for ACCOs","ACCO funding agreements that include evaluation resources"],"wathaga_role":"Wathaga lowers the cost of reporting by letting ACCOs collect data once, in their own frameworks, and generate reports for several funders.","evidence":[{"page":"287","point":"ACCOs report that funding formulas neither realise rights nor support targets, and that short-term, inadequate cycles burden them.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"288","point":"Funding rarely provides or sustains monitoring and evaluation, and small ACCOs lack capacity to write competitive proposals.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"300","point":"The report calls for long-term, flexible, indexed, full-cost-recovery funding proportionate to need and an end to pilot churn.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"128","point":"Communities said funding is often short-term and goes to larger mainstream organisations not accountable to local people.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-055","theme":"Accountability, funding and data sovereignty","title":"Indigenous data sovereignty","summary":"When governments control the collection, interpretation and release of data they decide what is measured and whose views count. Indigenous data sovereignty asserts First Peoples' right to govern data about them, their lands and their knowledge. Current federal guidance is welcome but not binding and does not reach states or service providers.","ctg_targets":[17],"priority_reforms":[4],"undrip_articles":[3,18,19,31],"sdgs":[17,16],"sjr_recs":[12],"measures":["Binding data agreements in place across jurisdictions","Communities with regional data access (Priority Reform 4)","Organisations with an adopted Indigenous data governance framework"],"wathaga_role":"Wathaga is built for Indigenous data sovereignty: communities own and control their data, can export or remove it, and decide who sees what.","evidence":[{"page":"294","point":"Government control of data means First Peoples are monitored while governments escape equivalent scrutiny.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"295","point":"Maiam nayri Wingara principles affirm rights to control data, define relevance and interpretation, and hold data users accountable to Indigenous governance.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"295","point":"The federal Framework for Governance of Indigenous Data is guidance, not binding, and does not extend to states, territories or non-government holders.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"296","point":"A community-designed national longitudinal study shows how research on First Peoples' own terms can quantify cultural determinants of wellbeing.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-056","theme":"Accountability, funding and data sovereignty","title":"Community-led measurement, evaluation and learning","summary":"ACCOs face heavy evaluation and reporting while government performance is rarely evaluated, and evaluation money is seldom provided. Communities want monitoring and evaluation that is transparent, culturally informed and centres their right to define success. First Nations-led co-creation and long-term learning partnerships offer a different model.","ctg_targets":[17],"priority_reforms":[2,4,3],"undrip_articles":[3,18,23,31],"sdgs":[17,16],"sjr_recs":[10,12],"measures":["ACCOs with a community-owned MEL framework","Local First Nations people employed in evaluation roles","Evaluations of government agencies against Priority Reforms"],"wathaga_role":"Wathaga and Kowa's UMEL approach put measurement, evaluation and learning in community hands—from theory of change and signals of change to baselines and learning cycles.","evidence":[{"page":"291","point":"Significant effort goes into evaluating First Nations organisations while systemic evaluation of government performance is absent.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"128","point":"Communities said government self-reporting is not enough and that monitoring and evaluation must centre First Peoples' right to define success.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"117","point":"A consortium of seven ACCOs co-designed a culturally led governance model and a monitoring and evaluation framework to track progress against community goals.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"288","point":"Funding agreements rarely provide or sustain monitoring and evaluation to assess outcomes.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-057","theme":"Women, Elders, young people and LGBTIQA+ mob","title":"Women's voices, leadership and unpaid care","summary":"First Nations women carry much of the caring, cultural and community work, often unpaid and invisible in policy and economic measures. They face high rates of violence and imprisonment and lead many of the solutions. The Wiyi Yani U Thangani work set out women's priorities, and its findings are echoed in this report.","ctg_targets":[13,8,10,17],"priority_reforms":[1,2],"undrip_articles":[21,22,44],"sdgs":[5,8,10],"sjr_recs":[16,10],"measures":["Kinship and grandparent carers receiving financial support","Women in First Nations representative and partnership structures","Community-defined measures of women's caring and cultural work"],"wathaga_role":"Wathaga can capture work that standard indicators miss, helping women's organisations show the real value of unpaid and cultural labour.","evidence":[{"page":"125","point":"Community life in many places depends on the unpaid labour of women, especially grandmothers, whose contributions go unrecognised.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"126","point":"Much of what communities said about work and caring reflects the Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women's Voices) report.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"300","point":"The Wiyi Yani U Thangani report and the Productivity Commission both found government risk aversion limits community leadership while communities carry the risks.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"398","point":"First Nations women are the fastest-growing prison population.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-058","theme":"Women, Elders, young people and LGBTIQA+ mob","title":"Elders, ageing and culturally safe aged care","summary":"Elders are cultural authorities and carers, often doing unpaid work in justice groups, courts and child care while supporting grandchildren. Yet their voices are missing from decision-making and Closing the Gap targets, which focus on life expectancy rather than quality of life. Survivors of institutions fear being institutionalised again in aged care.","ctg_targets":[1,14,16,17],"priority_reforms":[1,2,3],"undrip_articles":[21,22,24],"sdgs":[3,10],"sjr_recs":[16],"measures":["First Nations people 50+ receiving culturally safe aged care","Elders in paid community decision-making roles","Elder-defined quality-of-life indicators"],"wathaga_role":"Wathaga can record Elders' guidance and Elder-defined wellbeing measures, giving them visibility that national targets currently lack.","evidence":[{"page":"138","point":"Communities raised the lack of Elder voices in decision-making in every consultation.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"139","point":"Elders sit on justice groups and community courts, visit people in prison and care for grandchildren, often unpaid.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"139","point":"Participants said Elders are missing from Closing the Gap, whose measures look at life expectancy but not quality of life or cultural connection.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"139","point":"Elders raised in institutions fear being institutionalised again and asked for safer, culturally supportive aged care.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-059","theme":"Women, Elders, young people and LGBTIQA+ mob","title":"Sistergirls, Brotherboys and LGBTIQA+ mob","summary":"First Nations LGBTIQA+ people, including Sistergirls and Brotherboys, face racism and queerphobia together, with serious effects on mental health. They are over-represented in prisons and can be excluded from services that are not safe for them. Affirming, community-controlled services make a real difference.","ctg_targets":[14,1,10,18],"priority_reforms":[2,3],"undrip_articles":[2,21,24],"sdgs":[3,5,10],"sjr_recs":[14,16],"measures":["Psychological distress among First Nations LGBTIQA+ young people","Services with LGBTIQA+-affirming accreditation","Funding for LGBTIQA+ First Nations-led organisations"],"wathaga_role":"Wathaga's community-controlled access settings allow LGBTIQA+ mob to share experiences safely, informing services without exposing individuals.","evidence":[{"page":"113","point":"In a national survey of First Nations LGBTIQA+ young people, 45.4% had attempted suicide in their lifetime and 92% reported high psychological distress.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"120","point":"Without safe services, LGBTIQA+ mob are more likely to be excluded, and organisations cannot gather health information if services are unsafe for them.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"399","point":"LGBTIQA+ people are over-represented in prisons and face higher levels of discrimination, violence and trauma there.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"117","point":"A gay Aboriginal man described positive experiences at ACCHOs where women and aunties actively support rainbow mob.","source":"sjr2025"}]},{"issue_id":"kb-060","theme":"Women, Elders, young people and LGBTIQA+ mob","title":"Young people as leaders and decision-makers","summary":"Every community expressed deep concern for young people's wellbeing and called for them to grow up strong in culture, with safe homes, family support and culturally grounded education and health care. Young people want to lead and to be included in decisions about their futures. Youth with lived experience of the justice system say locking up children takes them away from everything they value.","ctg_targets":[7,11,14],"priority_reforms":[1,2],"undrip_articles":[17,21,22],"sdgs":[4,8,16],"sjr_recs":[8,18,5],"measures":["Youth representatives on Closing the Gap and justice partnership bodies","Youth engagement in work or study (PC target 7)","Youth-defined wellbeing indicators"],"wathaga_role":"Wathaga can support youth-led evaluation, letting young people tell their stories through video and photo and define what success looks like.","evidence":[{"page":"139","point":"Communities shared deep concern for young people and named safe housing, family support, culturally grounded education and help for children who learn differently as priorities.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"138","point":"Communities want young people included in discussions about their futures, especially where they will be expected to step into leadership.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"417","point":"Young people with lived experience told a youth-led project that the justice system is failing them and that detention cuts them off from family, culture and Country.","source":"sjr2025"},{"page":"430","point":"Governments are urged to treat young Aboriginal people as the solution and involve those with lived experience in decision-making.","source":"sjr2025"}]}]