Question 1

What is an ACCO?

Accepted Answer

The National Agreement on Closing the Gap defines an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Community-Controlled Organisation (ACCO) as an organisation that ‘delivers services, including land and resource management, that builds the strength and empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and people and is:

incorporated under relevant legislation and not-for-profit;
controlled and operated by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people;
connected to the community, or communities, in which they deliver the services, and;
governed by a majority Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander governing body.’

Question 2

What Is an Acco Peak Body?

Accepted Answer

Peak bodies are representative, non-government organisations whose membership predominantly consists of other organisations of allied interests and which are recognised by other peaks and their sectors generally as a representative of the whole of their sector.

The WA ACCO Peak Body aims at representing the various ACCOs across Western Australia.

Question 3

What Is the Purpose of Establishing a Wa Acco Peak Body?

Accepted Answer

The aim of the WA ACCO Peak Body is to strengthen and increase the capacity of WA ACCOs involved in service delivery to Aboriginal people in WA across priority sectors identified under the National Agreement.

The aim of the WA ACCO Peak Body is to provide a strong and collective voice to ACCOs across WA in conversations with the WA State and Commonwealth Government, by contributing to strategies, plans and programmes, and advocating of the needs of WA ACCOs, as well as of Aboriginal communities that those WA ACCOs provide services to.

Question 4

Who Is Leading the Development of the Acco Peak Body?

Accepted Answer

The work is being led by the AHCWA Social Services Committee (the Committee), a subcommittee of the AHCWA Board. The Committee consists of the AHCWA Chairperson, five AHCWA Board Directors and five Aboriginal independent representatives. The Committee is supported in its activities by the AHCWA Closing the Gap, Social Services Project Team.

Question 5

What Is the Committee’s Roles and Responsibilities?

Accepted Answer

The purpose of the AHCWA Social Services Committee is to assist the AHCWA Board of Directors to establish an independent, incorporated Western Australian Aboriginal Community Control Organisations Consortium (ACCO Consortium).

The ACCO Consortium, once established, will:

act as a peak body to represent the interests of WA ACCOs across a range of sectors in alignment with the National Agreement;
facilitate Aboriginal community controlled sector participation in partnerships with the WA Government which is integral to the implementation of all Priority Reforms under the National Agreement;
strengthen and increase the capacity of WA ACCOs involved in service delivery to Aboriginal people in WA, and;
advocate on behalf of Aboriginal people in WA.

1. What is CASWA?

2. Why was CASWA established?

3. What does CASWA do?

4. Who can become a member of CASWA?

5. Why should my organisation join CASWA?

6. How do we apply for membership?

7. How does CASWA work with government?

8. Does CASWA deliver services directly?

9. How does CASWA avoid duplication with existing ACCOs?

10. How can I contact CASWA?

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