First Nations & VW
Re-establishing the Self Determination of CDEP (Community Development and Employment Program)
|
Very few government policies have gained the trust of First Nations communities or been perceived as genuinely supporting self-determination. As stated in this interview with Thomas Mayo, CDEP stands out as one policy that many communities recognised and trusted, before is was ended in 2015. |
Thomas Mayo on CDEP: "Communities had a lot of say
on what sort of meaningful work there was in communities." |
Voluntary Work and Self Determination
The voluntary work reform we propose would help rebuild the self-determination that was at the heart of CDEP’s original design. It would do this by allowing participants meet their mutual obligations for income support by taking part in a wide range of activities they choose, run by local community organisations approved by government.
This policy reform would reaffirm the inherent and practical value of community work, and the range of benefits it provides - such as skill development, community building, social inclusion, and, for some, pathways to paid employment.
Background on CDEP
CDEP (File photo) (Kate Humphris: ABC Local)
|
Beginning in 1977, CDEP involved community-driven activities like building and maintaining community infrastructure, land and environmental management, cultural preservation projects, arts and crafts, organising community events, health promotion, and support services. It was an initiative which fostered strong community autonomy and pride—aligning with Australia's commitment to UNDRIP principles of self-determination.
|
Beginning with the Howard government in the mid-90s, CDEP came to be increasingly framed as a “labour market program (that is, economic only) rather than as an expression of self-determination and community development (that is, the social agenda)" (Altman, 2008, p3). This shift significantly eroded the program’s self-determination and ultimately led to its mis-characterisation as an underperforming welfare-to-work initiative, despite substantial evidence of its contributions to self-determination and social well-being. This framing culminated in the Howard governments announced termination of the the program in 2007, during the Northern Territory National Emergency Response ("the Intervention").
CDEP's replacement, the Community Development Program (CDP), has focused more on top-down employment schemes and penalising participants for attendance issues, rather than supporting meaningful, community-driven initiatives. As Altman (2016) reported: "On the ground, this well-intentioned mistake has destroyed emerging and often remarkable forms of plural Indigenous economy that had been carefully incubated over many years".
By reintroducing a policy that allows individuals and communities to self-determine mutual obligations—while complying with government-set conditions—the voluntary work reform we propose could help revive these "remarkable forms of plural Indigenous economy."
Closing The Gap
This policy reform would help meet Closing the Gap commitments, particularly Priority Reform One, which embeds self‑determination as a structural requirement of policy design and service delivery (Joint Council on Closing the Gap, 2020).
Mutual obligation policy has been criticised for imposing externally defined participation requirements that can be misaligned with community authority, cultural context and local economic conditions (Australian Human Rights Commission, 2023). By supporting self‑directed and locally governed voluntary participation, this reform will create participation settings that better align with self‑determination objectives and contribute to improved socioeconomic outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (Australian Human Rights Commission, 2023; ANTAR, 2026).
CDEP's replacement, the Community Development Program (CDP), has focused more on top-down employment schemes and penalising participants for attendance issues, rather than supporting meaningful, community-driven initiatives. As Altman (2016) reported: "On the ground, this well-intentioned mistake has destroyed emerging and often remarkable forms of plural Indigenous economy that had been carefully incubated over many years".
By reintroducing a policy that allows individuals and communities to self-determine mutual obligations—while complying with government-set conditions—the voluntary work reform we propose could help revive these "remarkable forms of plural Indigenous economy."
Closing The Gap
This policy reform would help meet Closing the Gap commitments, particularly Priority Reform One, which embeds self‑determination as a structural requirement of policy design and service delivery (Joint Council on Closing the Gap, 2020).
Mutual obligation policy has been criticised for imposing externally defined participation requirements that can be misaligned with community authority, cultural context and local economic conditions (Australian Human Rights Commission, 2023). By supporting self‑directed and locally governed voluntary participation, this reform will create participation settings that better align with self‑determination objectives and contribute to improved socioeconomic outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (Australian Human Rights Commission, 2023; ANTAR, 2026).
References
ABC News. (2025, January 1). 'Solutions are known': Why can't Australian governments Close the Gap? Insiders: On Background. ABC News In-Depth.
Altman, J. C. (2008). Submission to ‘Increasing Indigenous Economic Opportunity – A discussion paper on the future of the CDEP and Indigenous Employment Programs’ (CAEPR Topical Issue No. 14/2008). Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research, ANU College of Arts & Social Sciences.
Altman, J. (2016, December 16). Making a living differently. Inside Story.
See also:
Altman, J. (2007). Neo-paternalism and the destruction of CDEP [Community Development Employment Projects]. Arena Magazine (Fitzroy, Vic), (90), 33-35.
ANTAR. (2026). Self determination resources. https://antar.org.au/resources/
Australian Human Rights Commission. (2023). Self determination and Indigenous peoples. https://humanrights.gov.au
Environmental Justice Australia. (2022, June 16). Application of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Australia.
Joint Council on Closing the Gap. (2020). National Agreement on Closing the Gap. https://closingthegap.niaa.gov.au/national-agreement
ABC News. (2025, January 1). 'Solutions are known': Why can't Australian governments Close the Gap? Insiders: On Background. ABC News In-Depth.
Altman, J. C. (2008). Submission to ‘Increasing Indigenous Economic Opportunity – A discussion paper on the future of the CDEP and Indigenous Employment Programs’ (CAEPR Topical Issue No. 14/2008). Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research, ANU College of Arts & Social Sciences.
Altman, J. (2016, December 16). Making a living differently. Inside Story.
See also:
Altman, J. (2007). Neo-paternalism and the destruction of CDEP [Community Development Employment Projects]. Arena Magazine (Fitzroy, Vic), (90), 33-35.
ANTAR. (2026). Self determination resources. https://antar.org.au/resources/
Australian Human Rights Commission. (2023). Self determination and Indigenous peoples. https://humanrights.gov.au
Environmental Justice Australia. (2022, June 16). Application of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Australia.
Joint Council on Closing the Gap. (2020). National Agreement on Closing the Gap. https://closingthegap.niaa.gov.au/national-agreement
