OCHRE Local Decision Making Stage 2 Evaluation: NCARA-State Accord Evaluation Report : 5/2023

Abstract

The NCARA–State Accord is the first multi-regional Accord in New South Wales (NSW), making it an important milestone under the Local Decision Making (LDM) initiative, a key initiative under the OCHRE plan for Aboriginal affairs in NSW. It commits the NSW Government and the New South Wales Coalition of Aboriginal Regional Alliances (NCARA) to work together to support, renew and return Aboriginal peoples to prosperity. The NCARA–State Accord is a principle-based agreement centred around self-determination which provides a framework for collaboration between the two parties. The NCARA–State Accord Evaluation Report is an outcome evaluation. It investigates if and how the NCARA–State Accord is achieving ‘what it set out to do’ in relation to transforming government and transforming relationships under the LDM initiative. The first part of the report examines the outcomes of establishing a separate Aboriginal governance body, known as NCARA, at the state level under the LDM initiative and its role within the broader LDM governance network. It also evaluates the outcome of signing the NCARA–State Accord. The second part of the report focuses on findings relating to transformational change around reclaiming, renewing, and returning Aboriginal people in NSW to prosperity, and transforming Aboriginal service delivery in NSW. It examines the outcomes of the NCARA–State Accord in terms of transforming government, including improving working relationships, sharing decision making, improving service delivery ownership, and sharing data. It finds that the NCARA–State Accord has fallen short in practice, particularly with respect to public sector engagement with NCARA. The report recommends improvements that would strengthen the way that NSW Government agencies engage with NCARA to achieve the intent of the NCARA–State Accord.