Media Release
The Aboriginal Peak Organisations Northern Territory (APONT) says the latest Closing the Gap data released by the
Productivity Commission paints a poor picture of the Northern Territory’s progress on closing the gap. It is calling for
urgent action and genuine partnerships with Aboriginal people and community-controlled organisations to accelerate
change and deliver better outcomes.
The Productivity Commission’s Closing the Gap Annual Data Compilation Report 2026, released last week, identifies the
Northern Territory as the worst performing jurisdiction with the highest number of outcomes showing no improvement or
worsening. The Northern Territory has worsened against six of the closing the gap targets—1 (female life expectancy),
4 (children develop mentally on track), 7 (youth engagement), 8 (employment), 10 (adult imprisonment) and 11 (youth detention).
While there was improvement against eight targets, the Northern Territory is so far behind that it is not on track to meet 16 of
the 17 headline targets by the 2031 deadline.
At the NT Executive Committee of Aboriginal Affairs (NTECAA) meeting on 30 July 2026 — which includes representatives from the Northern
Territory Government, APONT, the Local Government Association of the NT and the National Indigenous Australians Agency — the
Productivity Commissioner, Selwyn Button attended to explain the latest data and discuss the upcoming review of the National Agreement on
Closing the Gap.
Dr Donna Ah Chee, APONT chairperson and co-chair of NTECAA, said, ‘These statistics are stark and represent the real lives of Aboriginal people,
families and communities across the Northern Territory. It means that women are dying younger, fewer adults are in employment, women are
more likely to be the subject of domestic violence, more Aboriginal people are committing suicide, kids are not developing in greater numbers
or they are being locked up or taken away from their parents. This is unacceptable and can’t continue.’
‘APONT and its members are working at the grassroots level providing jobs, health care, housing and legal representation to the most marginalised
Territorians, and it is our staff and directors are also members of families and communities directly impacted. We know what the issues are and want to
be part of the solutions but are increasingly being excluded from decision making.’
‘The National Agreement already tells governments what needs to change’ said Dr Ah Chee. Aboriginal people must be involved in the decisions that affect
our lives, and Aboriginal community-controlled organisations must be properly resourced to deliver solutions designed and led by our communities.”
At the NTECAA meeting, co-chair Minister Steven Edgington, on behalf of the Northern Territory Government confirmed its recommitment to the National
Agreement on Closing the Gap, including meaningful shared decision making with Aboriginal people.
Media contact: Anthony Beven
0419 218 518 / anthony.beven@apont.org.au
MR005/2026
3 August 2026
About APONT: APONT is a formal alliance that represents Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory. The
alliance was formed to provide a more effective response to key issues of joint interest and concern
affecting Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory, including working in genuine partnership with
governments to achieve better outcomes for Aboriginal Territorians. The alliance comprises the Aboriginal
Medical Service Alliance Northern Territory, North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency, Central Land Council,
Northern Land Council, Tiwi Land Council, Anindilyakwa Land Council, Aboriginal Housing NT and the
Northern Territory Indigenous Business Network.
WE ARE ACTIVELY SEEKING MEMBERSHIP AND EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST TO BE A NTAECC DIRECTOR
ABORIGINAL PEARK ORGANISATIONS OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY - APONT
NTAECC
After years of lobbying and implementation of a funding agreement administered by the education departments of NT Labor and CLP governments’ the Aboriginal Peak Organisations NT Aboriginal Corporation (APONT) has established a peak representative body for education for the NT.
The name of the legal entity is the NT Aboriginal Education Consultative Council Aboriginal Corporation ICN 11857.
The corporation will be known as NTAECC for consistency and alignment with the names of Indigenous peak bodies for education around Australia.
NTAECC was incorporated as a legal entity under the CATSI Act in April 2026. NTAECC will be an advisory body to governments to ensure our voice is heard when it comes to education for Aboriginal people in the NT.
Objectives
1. Enter into a partnership agreement with the NT Department of Education and Training and become a member of NATSIEC
2. Establish partnership approaches and advocate to ensure all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Northern Territory receive quality, culturally appropriate and accessible education at all levels
3. Support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to lead education initiatives which transmit their histories, languages, traditions and culture through education, training and learning
4. Build education and learning into community values, norms and practices as the basis of building knowledge, skills and capabilities to improve economic and social prosperity in Aboriginal communities.
5. Support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander educators, staff and students in their education, training and learning aspirations, including the provision of appropriate career pathways and pathways for further education and training.
6. Advance Commonwealth and Northern Territory Government commitments to Closing the Gap Priority Reform 1—Formal partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
7. Advance Commonwealth and Northern Territory Government commitments to Closing the Gap priority reforms and socio-economic outcome areas that target education.
8. Ensure free, prior and informed consent in decision making and when engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities regarding decisions about education, training and learning issues
Governance.
In the first three months after incorporation the corporation will be governed by an interim board of directors with up to 12 members. The interim board of directors will:
1. Develop strategies to attract membership of the corporation
2. Represent NAETECC at Territory and National education forums, and
3. Act as an advisory body to Territory and Commonwealth governments
The term of the interim board of directors will end at the first general meeting due three months after the date of incorporation. At the first general meeting the term of the interim board of directors will end and the positions will be declared vacant. The members in attendance at the meeting will elect and appoint a new board of directors for a term of 2 years.
The corporation will ask members to appoint directors who are resident in regions throughout the NT.
The appointed directors will have experience and/or qualifications in specialist areas of education and have:
• current or previous employment in the NT education system
• cultural knowledge and authority
Together, the directors will have experience and/or qualifications in early childhood education, primary education, secondary education, vocational education and training, higher education and homeland schooling.
Membership
The corporation will have two classes of membership
A Full Member must be:
• at least 15 years old
• an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person that permanently resides in the Northern Territory
An Associate Member must be:
• at least 18 years old
• a person who is not eligible to be a full member
• a permanent resident in the Northern Territory
Directors:
There will be a maximum of 12 directors
A director must be:
• at least 18 years old
• be a Full Member
IF THIS IS YOU - WE ARE ACTIVELY SEEKING MEMBERSHIP AND EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST TO BE A NTAECC DIRECTOR
Please complete the membership form and the director nomination if you would like to be appointed as a director.
Application for membership form and
Board MemberNomination form
Please send forms or if you have questions please see contact details below:
education@apont.org.au
Phone: 08 7936 8620
9A Rowling Street, Casuarina NT 0810
