Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination

The Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination (OIPC) was the Australian Government-led unit for the coordination of policy, programs and services for Indigenous Australians from July 2004 to August 2011.

Not to be confused with Office of Policy Coordination.

Office of Indigenous Policy
Agency overview
Formed1 July 2004
Preceding
DissolvedAugust 2011
Superseding agency
JurisdictionCommonwealth of Australia
HeadquartersCanberra

The OIPC was formally established in July 2004 within the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA), in the wake of the dissolution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC). It was formally dissolved in August 2011 when its functions were integrated within the divisions and branches of the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA).

History

The Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination was formally established on 1 July 2004 within the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs to replace ATSIC and its associated services. With the machinery of government changes in January 2006, the OIPC was transferred to the newly established Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaCSIA).[1]

After the change of government in December 2007, the portfolio was renamed the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA), and the coordination of the Indigenous Coordination Centres and some program management responsibilities were integrated throughout the department. Throughout the existence of the OIPC within FaHCSIA, responsibilities for policy development, program management and service delivery were increasingly mainstreamed and integrated across distinct divisions and branches. The Rudd Government also established the Coordinator-General of Remote Indigenous Services in 2009 to coordinate service delivery to remote Indigenous communities.[2]

The OIPC was formally disbanded in name and integrated into the Indigenous Policy and Engagement Division of FaHCSIA in August 2011.[3][2]

FaHCSIA was discontinued with the election of the Abbott Government in September 2013, with the transfer of Indigenous affairs to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and the creation of the Indigenous Affairs Group.[4]

Responsibilities

The OIPC was responsible for whole-of-government Indigenous policy development and service delivery and managed a regional network of Indigenous Coordination Centres across states and territories. The OIPC also worked with state and territory governments through Council of Australian Governments (COAG) arrangements.[5][4]

References
  1. Lessons learnt about strengthening Indigenous families and communities Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Occasional Paper Number 19 (2018)
  2. Australian National Audit Office. Australian Government Coordination Arrangements for Indigenous Programs: Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. Report Number 8 of 2012-2013, Performance Audit. Commonwealth of Australia. ISBN 0642812802. ISSN 1036-7632. PDF
  3. FaHCSIA organisational structure August 2011 FaHCSIA archived website
  4. Commonwealth Machinery of Government in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs: 50 years of Commonwealth Public Administration in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Indigenous Affairs Group Discussion Paper Number 1 (May 2017)
  5. Australian Government Coordination Arrangements for Indigenous Programs Australian National Audit Office Report Number 8 of 2012-2013
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