Aboriginal program spend rises post-COVID

WA government spend on Aboriginal programs has grown more than 30 per cent since pandemic restrictions limiting access to remote communities and regional areas lifted.

The forecast $770 million 2022-23 financial year outlay highlighted in this year’s WA Aboriginal expenditure review will be used as a baseline to scrutinise allocation of funds.

That outlay represents a sizeable increase since 2021-22’s $583 million spend across 362 programs, a fact largely attributed to service disruptions while outside access was limited to protect vulnerable Indigenous communities from COVID-19.

A state government spokesman said the review bolstered transparency of investment in Aboriginal programs and services.

“Significantly, Aboriginal organisations now play a role in delivering 70 per cent of existing State Government initiatives relating to Aboriginal people,” he said.

“The State Government will continue to explore opportunities to further increase participation by Aboriginal organisation in service delivery.”

On 2021-22’s confirmed figures, more than three quarters of the funding was funneled into Aboriginal-specific programs, with the rest going to programs where Aboriginal people were the predominant recipients.

Department of Communities programs accounted for a $167 million slice of the pie, followed by the departments of Health ($125m), Education ($80m), Justice ($74m), and Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions ($32m).

Communities’ spend is estimated to have grown by about $800,000 in FY2022-23 to $243 million, nearly double that of the next biggest spender, Health, at $136 million.

About 20 per cent of programs in 2021-22 were delivered solely by Aboriginal organisations, half were run by partnerships, and 30 per cent by the state government alone.

Aboriginal primary health contracts and remote essential services contracts made up the lion’s share of programs delivered solely by Aboriginal organisations.

Aboriginal Health Council of WA chairwoman Vicki O'Donnell said the review would drive more services into the hands of Aboriginal community-controlled organisations.

“… who for a long time have been acknowledged as more efficient and more appropriate than non-Aboriginal service providers to inform and deliver services to Aboriginal people and their communities,” she said in the report’s foreword.

Perth had the most programs operating in 2021-22 at 94, while the Gascoyne at the highest concentration of programs with 26 per 1000 Aboriginal residents.

Perth’s concentration, by comparison, was two per 1000 Aboriginal residents.

The spokesman said only four of the 30 programs delivered in the Gascoyne were exclusive to the region.

The report recommended establishment of an Aboriginal organisation directory, increasing Aboriginal participation in services as contracts come up for renewal, and inclusion of federal and local government spend in future reports.

It also highlighted the state government’s efforts to exceed its 3 per cent Aboriginal procurement target, splashing $254 million representing 5.6 per cent of contracts in 2021-22.

Almost every one of these contracts was awarded to a WA-based Aboriginal business.

Main Roads and the WA Country Health Service were noted as the best performers.

The government spokesman said all recommendations would be adopted.