The Australian Department of the Treasury published the communiqué from the sixth First Nations Economic Partnership meeting, at which partners endorsed three proposals to strengthen employment and career pathways in the community controlled sector. The proposals will be presented to the Australian Government for detailed design and funding consideration, alongside continued work on a First Nations Economic Framework, access to capital and Indigenous procurement reform. The employment proposals cover school to work pathways through Aboriginal community controlled training providers and supported placements, dedicated pathways for long term unemployed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in nonremote areas, and expansion of the First Nations early childhood education and care workforce. A discussion paper on the economic framework is expected to be released for consultation in the coming weeks. A working group will also develop options to connect First Nations projects with finance, identify suitable capital products and increase private investment for consideration at the partnership’s next meeting on Dec. 2, 2026. Partners agreed to explore a high transparency approach to Mandatory Minimum Indigenous Participation Requirements, provided implementation is practical and proportionate. They also discussed the Native Title Act review and called for reforms that strengthen Native Title holders’ role in economic development and decision making, while identifying artificial intelligence infrastructure and data centers as an emerging area for further briefing.
Australian Department of the Treasury reports First Nations Economic Partnership backing for three employment proposals
The Australian Department of the Treasury reported that the First Nations Economic Partnership endorsed three employment proposals covering school to work pathways, long term unemployment and the early childhood workforce. The proposals will proceed to government consideration, while consultation on a First Nations Economic Framework is expected in the coming weeks. Capital access options will be developed for the partnership’s Dec. 2, 2026 meeting.