Regional Outcomes Directorate
DIA's Regional Outcomes Directorate is predominantly an operational area that works on-the-ground with Indigenous people to facilitate improved access and delivery of services and to support land initiatives and heritage management. The Directorate provides a key point of engagement with the Indigenous community and works strategically across the whole of Government.
The Directorate in collaboration with the Commonwealth Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) leads the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Indigenous reform agenda in WA to address Indigenous disadvantage. This will initially focus on developing and implementing remote service delivery models for communities on the Dampier Peninsula, Fitzroy Crossing and Halls Creek and will support capacity building initiatives, local decision-making and governance.
The Directorate will also lead the State’s effort to address service gaps in a metropolitan, regional and small remote setting. The initial communities selected are Armadale, Roebourne and Oombugurri respectively. The Directorate is committed to an integrated State response and to working alongside Aboriginal people in WA to make a positive difference in their living conditions and social and economic prosperity.
Directorate structure
There are two branches within the Directorate:
- Strategic Projects; and
- Regional Operations.
The Strategic Projects Branch is a Perth-based specialist unit that engages with Indigenous communities and other stakeholders to undertake specific initiatives, address systematic issues and develop local solutions to local and regional issues. The branch performs the following roles:
- Program manages specific Commonwealth–State agreements and associated projects to ensure optimal investment and accountability;
- Negotiates and develops partnership agreements and other regional agreements aimed at economic participation to improve training and employment opportunities for Indigenous people;
- Leads the coordination of Government effort at targeted Indigenous communities to improve living conditions, provide supports for good governance and assist in building sustainable communities; and
- Promotes reconciliation activities such as delivering cross cultural training and supporting State Government agencies and other organisations to develop Reconciliation Action Plans.
The Regional Operations Branch comprises a network of seven regional offices throughout the State. DIA regionalised its operations in 1994 as it was considered that localised and targeted coordination would be more effective in resolving issues and improving service delivery. The regional network has a focus on achieving sustainable and strong Indigenous communities. In broad terms the functions of the DIA regional offices are to:
- Build partnerships across Government and non-government sectors to enhance services to Indigenous people;
- Facilitate local inter-agency committees and provide advice to selected regional forums and working groups;
- Support governance and capacity building initiatives;
- Support community safety initiatives such as Aboriginal Community Patrols;
- Facilitate and advise on land initiatives and provide assistance in relation to the management of the Aboriginal Lands Trust Estate;
- Undertake cultural resource management activities to manage and protect Aboriginal sites; and
- Support Indigenous events such as NAIDOC to promote Indigenous achievements and cultural heritage.
Key projects
The Regional Outcomes Directorate is managing a number of key projects to address Indigenous disadvantage. Some of these are: