Aboriginal Peak Organisations NT (APONT) takes practical suggestions from its member organisations to the Territory and Federal governments.

The overarching message is always centred on key issues: housing, health, education, economic empowerment, land rights, native title, and the high rate of Indigenous incarceration.

“We’re a conduit,” says APONT chair John Paterson. “We help Aboriginal people be heard. We provide practical solutions.”

Nobody can doubt that APONT is effective – it has negotiated an $814 million package from the Federal Government to be spent on health and education.

APONT itself won’t spend the money but it wants input into how it is spent.

The umbrella organisation is made up of eight peak bodies:

• Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory
• North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency
• Aboriginal Housing Northern Territory
• Northern Territory Indigenous Business Network
• Anindilyakwa Land Council
• Central Land Council
• Tiwi Land Council
• Northern Land Council

APONT was formed in 2010 to create a more united voice for Indigenous people.

“We wanted to be more influential – and it’s worked,” says Dr Paterson.

“There was a change in attitude in Canberra after we were formed. We got a seat at the table.”

APONT has long argued that governments should take a more coordinated approach to combating Australia’s greatest shame: Indigenous disadvantage.

“There’s an urgent need for a single agency to respond to the problems,” says Dr Paterson.

He is a former ATSIC commissioner and regrets that the organisation was wound up in 2005.

“People used to go to ATSIC to get things done. We had access to those in power, politicians and top bureaucrats.

“We need a one-stop shop again to stop the buck passing.

“Tackling the major problems facing Indigenous people demands political leadership, political will. That’s the only way we can overcome the big underlying issues, such as health, education and corrections.”

Dr Paterson may have got his wish – he has just been appointed to the Federal Government’s Joint Council on Closing the Gap, which is headed by Indigenous Australians Minister and Territory Senator Malarndirri McCarthy.

The council supports national leadership, coordination and cooperation on Closing the Gap and provides advice to Australian governments.

It is the first time Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been included as joint decision makers.

APONT’s member organisations take decisions on policy, strategy, governance, funding and operations as equals.

The objectives are to:

• Provide effective and proactive responses to policy issues affecting NT Aboriginal people
• Increase Aboriginal involvement in policy development and implementation
• Expand opportunities for Aboriginal control
• Strengthen networks between Aboriginal organisations in the NT and nationally, and
• Strengthen partnerships between Aboriginal organisations and the governments

APONT’S collective priorities are: Aboriginal leadership; health; liveable communities; adequate and appropriate housing; true justice; education; family and wellbeing; economic opportunities and empowerment; rights and interests; and civic participation.

APONT is striving to achieve the priorities through advocacy and influence; policy partnerships with government; and strengthening and developing the capacity of Aboriginal community-controlled organisations.

Dr Paterson is proud to lead such an effective organisation.

He grew up in a tin hut on a bush block in rural Darwin – and helped hold up the house with his bare hands during Cyclone Tracy.

Dr Paterson, who is affiliated with the Ngalakan people from Ngukurr in Arnhem Land, became a garbage man at 17 – or “garbologist”, as he prefers to call it – and then a laundry man.

Mentors told him that the surest way to progress in life was through education, so he gained a degree in social science.

“Doors opened and job offers came in once I had a university degree,” he says. “It shows the power of education.”

He is now a leading advocate for empowering Indigenous people – or as he says: “Putting Aboriginal people in the driver’s seat.” TQ