What the Guidance Offers

The guidance is grounded in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural authority, lived experience and self-determination, ensuring that shared decision-making is led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

At its core, it affirms that power-sharing and cultural authority are central, and that the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples must be at the heart of decisions affecting their communities. The guidance is not an exhaustive resource with all the answers. Instead, it offers practical, adaptable solutions to address challenges that are specific, contextual and place-based. Users are encouraged to tailor the tools and frameworks to their unique circumstances.

Support for All Partners

The guidance helps to:

• build a shared understanding of genuine shared decision-making in practice,
• learn from real case studies and proven approaches,
• assess readiness, address barriers and strengthen capability, and
• develop transparent, community-grounded agreements.

For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

The guidance supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities to embed cultural authority and community priorities in partnership agreements, use a shared language to hold governments to account, strengthen capacity to engage from a position of self-determination and advocate for better resourcing and clearer roles.

For Government Bodies

The guidance provides a clear, practical framework to meet obligations under the National Agreement and to advance Priority Reform One. It supports governments by providing clear pathways and steps to put shared decision-making into practice, to improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Understanding Shared Decision-Making

Shared decision-making, as outlined in Priority Reform One of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, means Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and governments work together as equal partners to make decisions that affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

In practice, this means sharing power and responsibility so that policies, programs and services reflect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge, priorities and needs. It recognises the expertise, lived experience and cultural authority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and ensures they are actively involved in shaping solutions from the start, not consulted at the end.

Why It Matters

Involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in decisions about their children, families and communities is the only approach that will work to close the gap. All Australian governments have committed to this principle through the National Agreement — now they must put this commitment into action.

Shared decision-making under Priority Reform One represents a foundational shift in how governments engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities. It moves away from top-down consultation toward genuine partnership and shared accountability. Shared decision-making is also closely linked to Priority Reform Three, which focuses on transforming government systems to make these partnerships possible. This includes embedding cultural safety, eliminating racism, increasing funding transparency and reforming how governments engage. These transformation elements create the foundation for sustainable, meaningful partnership.

By using this guidance, partners can embed shared decision-making through the strong partnership elements of the National Agreement, including formal agreements, accountability, transparency and accessibility. The guidance also helps address known barriers and power dynamics, supporting governments and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations to build culturally safe, transparent and effective partnerships.