What NIAA heard from communities about replacing CDP

Between February 2023 and June 2023, the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) listened and learned from more than 2250 people across 100 remote communities about what a new jobs program should look like.

This ‘listen and learn’ phase of consultations was an opportunity for communities and stakeholders to speak to the NIAA directly about ways to design and deliver a program as part of the Government’s commitment to replace the Community Development Program (CDP).

We heard that a new program should:

• Be planned and led by communities.
• Recognise roles carried out in the communities.
• Consider a new approach for youth. 
• Create more local jobs for local people.
• Support people who cannot work right now.
• Have flexibility to invest in local priorities.

And we also heard that it is fair to do something meaningful for the community or for your job prospects in return for income support.