National Indigenous Australians Agency facts for kids
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| Agency overview | |
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| Formed | 1 July 2019 |
| Jurisdiction | Australian Government |
| Minister responsible |
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| Agency executive |
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| Parent department | Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |
The National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) is a special group within the Australian Government. Its main job is to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. These groups are often called Indigenous Australians.
The NIAA works to make sure government plans, programs, and services help Indigenous Australians. It helps coordinate efforts across different government departments. The NIAA started in July 2019. It reports to the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Linda Burney. The current CEO (Chief Executive Officer) is Jody Broun.
How the NIAA Started
The idea for the NIAA was announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison. This happened on May 26, 2019, after the 2019 Federal Election. The Prime Minister wanted to make changes to how the government worked.
One big change was creating the NIAA. It took over the work of an older group called the Indigenous Affairs Group. The NIAA was officially set up on July 1, 2019. Its first CEO was Ray Griggs. Jody Broun became the CEO in February 2022.
What the NIAA Does
The National Indigenous Australians Agency works closely with the Minister for Indigenous Australians. It is part of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. This means it helps the government make decisions.
The NIAA has several key jobs:
- It helps create new plans and programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
- It makes sure these programs are put into action.
- It gives advice to the Prime Minister and the Minister for Indigenous Australians. This advice helps the whole government work better for Indigenous people.
- The NIAA also helps promote reconciliation. This means bringing Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians closer together.
- It works on the Closing the Gap strategy. This strategy aims to improve life outcomes for Indigenous Australians.
- The NIAA checks how well programs are working and makes improvements.
Who Works at the NIAA
The NIAA is led by its CEO, Jody Broun. There are also two Deputy CEOs who help manage different parts of the agency. The NIAA's structure helps it work as one team. It also helps them partner better with Indigenous Australians.
The NIAA has many employees. In 2021-22, there were 1,332 people working there. The NIAA has a diverse team:
- About 71% of the staff are women.
- About 22% of the staff identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
NIAA staff work all over Australia. About 41% of them are outside Canberra. They work in other big cities and in regional and remote areas. This helps the NIAA connect with communities across the country.
