What is OCHRE?
OCHRE stands for Opportunity, Choice, Healing, Responsibility, Empowerment. This name symbolises the deep connection Aboriginal communities have with Country and the need to put Healing at the centre. The OCHRE plan aims to strengthen the relationship between government and Aboriginal Communities in NSW.
OCHRE supports self-determination, enabling Aboriginal Communities to make decisions for themselves and work with government agencies in their own ways.
OCHRE emphasises:
- Partnerships over paternalism
- Opportunity over disadvantage
- Successes over shortfalls
- ‘Listening to’ over ‘talking at’
- Local solutions over ‘one size fits all’
- Evidence over assumptions
- Participation over marginalisation
- Practice over theory
… and recognises the importance of Healing.
Improving outcomes
The OCHRE plan helps improve outcomes for Aboriginal people and Communities.
OCHRE initiatives (see below) support Aboriginal aspirations around strengthening language and culture, education and work pathways, local Aboriginal decision making, and improving the education system for Aboriginal students
Working with and for Aboriginal Communities in this way leads to better well-being, education, and economic outcomes.
See OCHRE initiatives below
Community-based evidence
OCHRE has strong accountability mechanisms. The ground-breaking OCHRE Evaluation (Stages 1 and 2) provides rich evidence from Community voices to help shape policy and practice in NSW. See OCHRE evaluation for success stories and future solutions
What are the OCHRE initiatives?
Aboriginal Language and Cultural Nests
These aim to revitalise traditional Aboriginal languages and cultural knowledge in schools. Led by NSW Education in partnership with the Aboriginal Educational Consultive Group.
Connected Communities
Designed to strengthen educational outcomes for Aboriginal students. Key points include holistic learning, co-design and collaboration, community engagement and more.
Local Decision Making (LDM)
Learn how this enables local-regional Aboriginal Communities to shape the services that affect them. Also Aboriginal Regional Alliances, NCARA, Accords and more.
Opportunity Hubs
These provide supported pathways for young people through primary school, high school, further training, and into the workforce.