The Australian Government Department of Education signed a formal partnership agreement with the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Corporation (NATSIEC) on 7 March 2025 and with SNAICC – National Voice for our Children on 5 March 2025. These agreements set a new foundation for how the department works with NATSIEC and SNAICC to strengthen education outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families, and communities, from early childhood through to higher education.

Each agreement recognises the leadership, knowledge, and strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and cultures in shaping education policy and reform. They build on commitments under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, embedding the priority reforms to drive change in education systems and improve progress against national education targets.

As the national peak bodies for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education and early childhood development, NATSIEC and SNAICC will work alongside the Department of Education to ensure that First Nations voices are central to decision-making. These agreements affirm the department’s commitment to shared decision-making on policies and initiatives affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people, and their families.

These partnerships are an important step toward ensuring that education systems reflect and uphold Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander aspirations, strengths, and rights.