Improving First Nations outcomes a must for next Federal Government

The St Vincent de Paul Society NSW is calling on the next Federal Government to take meaningful action on Closing the Gap targets to address the disparity faced by First Nations peoples. 

Meeting the needs of First Nations peoples is one of the priority areas featured in the Society’s 2025 election statement – Justice & Compassion. 

The most recent Closing the Gap results, released by the Productivity Commission, revealed that improvements have been made to 11 of the 19 targets in the National Agreement, however only five are on track to be met. 

“The disparity faced by First Nations communities compared to the general population is a serious concern that must be addressed,” said Yolanda Saiz, St Vincent de Paul Society NSW CEO. 

“The ambition of the Closing the Gap targets is admirable, but we are seeing progress fall short, in areas such as overcrowded housing and early child development, resulting in First Nations communities bearing the brunt of these shortcomings.” 

Approximately one in four people seeking assistance from St Vincent de Paul Society NSW members in the last year identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, along with 21% of the people supported by the Society’s specialist homelessness and housing services. 

“Our members and services across the State are working to support the immediate needs of First Nations peoples, however greater systemic assistance is needed to address the inequality that remains,” said Peter Houweling, St Vincent de Paul Society NSW State President. 

“We call on the next Federal Government to fund, and commit to, fully implementing the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, for the betterment of our society.” 

The Society is also calling for progress on the Uluru Statement from the Heart during the next term of parliament. The Society advocated in support of the First Nations Voice to Parliament and remains committed to the asks of the Uluru Statement for truth and treaty. 

“Truth telling is an opportunity to expand our understanding of Australia’s history, which includes the world’s longest living culture,” said Ms Saiz. 

“It is vital for all of us to not reject the truth of our history out of fear or discomfort. Truth telling is an opportunity to expand our understanding of who we are as a country.” 

Learn more about the St Vincent de Paul Society NSW’s priorities for meeting the needs of First Nations peoples in the Justice & Compassion election statement at www.vinnies.org.au/Election2025.