NSW Treasury Supporting First Nations Peoples and communities

Outcome Budgeting is one of NSW Government's tools to: 

• help make smart investment decisions
• use public resources wisely
• remain focused on our goals
• plan better for the future.

It's important that the results benefit everyone in NSW including Aboriginal and Torres Strat Islander communities.

Outcome Budgeting aims:

• to bring a greater focus on First Nations outcomes across NSW Government agencies
• to support the NSW Government’s commitment under Closing the Gap
• to support investment into First Nations communities
• to learn from our approach to current First Nations outcomes that could help with future First Nations outcomes.

Read our Outcome budgeting landscape report (PDF 2.84MB)

We have now published 3 editions of the Indigenous Expenditure Report.  The report outlines government spending on First Nations Peoples and programs in NSW. The aim of the 2023-24 NSW Indigenous expenditure report (PDF 19.38MB) is to improve outcomes for First Nations Peoples and communities. It will increase and improve the quality and amount of information available to inform government spending.

Opportunities through expenditure reporting

The report aims to empower First Nations Peoples and communities by:

• sharing information on government spending on First Nations Peoples, communities and programs
• looking at the government investment for Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCO)
• finding areas of government spending where First Nations Peoples are over or underrepresented
• finding which government funded First Nations programs need evaluating.

Key findings

Key findings for First Nations Peoples specific (targeted) services and programs in 2023-24:

• The NSW Government budgeted an estimated $1.2 billion for First Nations specific services and programs, representing around 1% of total NSW Government spending.
• The largest areas of spending were:
  • $301.8 million for housing and community amenities.
  • $237.8 million for education.
  • $226.3 million for social protection.
• Most of the spending (60.7%) went to NSW Government service providers and around 30.9% was directed to ACCOs.
• Around 11.5% of programs had a completed evaluation and 57.7% had an evaluation planned, in development or in progress.
• Most NSW Government spending for First Nations Peoples sits within general (non-targeted) services and programs, for 2021-22:
  • The NSW Government is estimated to have spent $5.8 billion on First Nations Peoples across 18 service areas, accounting for around 4.9% of total NSW Government spending.
  • The high proportion of spending on First Nations Peoples non-targeted service areas highlights the important role that these services and programs have on First Nations social, economic and cultural outcomes.
  • A motivator of non-targeted spending for First Nations Peoples relates to the over-representation of First Nations Peoples in the criminal justice, out-of-home care (OOHC) and child protection systems.
  • Spending for First Nations Peoples within the education and health systems was overall more in line with population and student shares.

Reports

• 2023-24 NSW Indigenous expenditure report (PDF 19.38MB)
• Interim Indigenous expenditure report (PDF 6.8MB)

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Video transcript

Interim Indigenous Expenditure Report

NSW has published our first Interim Indigenous Expenditure Report (IER) as part of our commitment to Closing the Gap. We're the first state in Australia to do so. The IER tracks Indigenous-specific funding and is a major step towards delivering better outcomes for First Nations Peoples in NSW. 

In 2021-2022, the NSW Government has committed $1.1 billion on Indigenous-specific programs, services and initiatives. That's an increase of $199.6 million or 18.9% on 2020-2021.

Find out more about how the NSW Government is working to Close the Gap.

Our aim is to improve the outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples living in NSW:

• we will make sure to invest enough in First Nations Peoples and communities in the state budget
• report on First Nations spending and promote First Nations Peoples self-determination decision-making
• include First Nations Peoples outcomes in Outcome Budgeting
• we will align with Indigenous-related NSW Government priorities
• work with agencies on important Indigenous-related policy reforms, including Closing the Gap and Local Decision Making.

Learn more about our Indigenous expenditure review and our Indigenous outcome budget.

Contact us

For more information about our First Nations Outcomes, you can email us at: AboriginalOutcomes@treasury.nsw.gov.au

We aim to improve the economic wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples living in NSW by:

• developing the First Nations Economic Prosperity framework
• creating a cost-benefit framework that includes First Nations Peoples cultural values
• publishing a regular ‘State of the NSW First Nations Business Sector’ report
• finding ways to improve economic development for the First Nations Economy.

Core projects 

• First Nations Economic Prosperity Outcomes Framework
• First Nations Business Sector Report
• First Nations Investment Framework
• First Nations Women's Economic Participation Review
• First Nations Data Reform.

Publications

• Valuing First Nations Cultures in Cost-Benefit Analysis Research Paper (PDF 1.3MB)
• Consultation report for the development of a NSW First Nations evaluation framework (PDF 627.92KB)
• Listening series for the development of NSW’s Aboriginal Economic Prosperity Outcomes Framework (PDF 1.03MB)
• Interview series for the development of NSW Treasury’s Aboriginal Economic Prosperity Outcomes Framework (PDF 802.58KB)
• TRP22-31 First Nations business sector technical research paper (PDF 2.97MB)
• TRP23-05 Pathways to Prosperity: First Nations Women’s Economic Participation Review (PDF 7.54MB)
• TPG24-28 First Nations Investment Framework (PDF 8.77MB)

Contact us

Contact fnew@treasury.nsw.gov.au for more information about our First Nations economic wellbeing projects.

We aim to improve procurement opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses through the Aboriginal Procurement Policy.

The Aboriginal Procurement Policy (APP) started on 1 January 2021 and aims to:

• support job opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• support growth of Aboriginal businesses by promoting demand through Government procurement of goods, services and construction.

The policy supports Aboriginal businesses and employment by:

• specific NSW Government agency spend and contract targets
• a minimum requirement for Aboriginal participation on all contracts valued at $7.5 million
• allowing NSW Government agencies to give first consideration to Aboriginal businesses for procurements up to $250,000, even if there is a mandated prequalification scheme or panel in place.

Learn more about the APP.

Contact us

You can contact us for more information at: nswbuy@treasury.nsw.gov.au or call us on 1800 679 289

We aim to give individual and trusted advice to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander small businesses to start, run and grow.

Business Connect can support Aboriginal businesses in NSW and Aboriginal people looking to start a business with:

• individual advice to help understand business challenges and achieve their business goals
• live webinars and events to develop business skills 
• online resources, including on-demand webinars and factsheets packed with practical tips on a range of topics.

Business Connect support is a free service for small businesses who have been affected by COVID-19.

Contact us

You can find out more at Service NSW Business Connect.