About the Clearinghouse
In April 2007 COAG agreed to establish a clearinghouse for evidence on what works to close the gap on Indigenous disadvantage. It is jointly funded by all Australian governments for five years under the National Partnership Agreement on an Indigenous Clearinghouse.
Objectives of the Clearinghouse
Build a cumulative evidence base for what works to close the gap in Indigenous disadvantage.
The Clearinghouse website provides access to the following evidence based material:
- a general collection of research, evaluations and reports catalogued by the COAG building blocks (with over 4,600 items currently available)
- an Assessed collection of selected research and evaluations (about 300 per year)
- Issues Papers reviewing the findings on what works on specific topics (2-3 per year)
- Resource Sheets summarising the evidence on more narrowly defined topics and its applicability for specific policies and/or programs (around 10 per year).
Improve access by policy makers, service providers and the general public to evidence on best practice and success factors to close the gap in Indigenous disadvantage.
The Clearinghouse provides access to evidence based material on what works through:
- a website with a searchable and catalogued repository of evidence based material
- links to the websites of other Clearinghouses and information services and to material available through other databases and catalogues
- a helpdesk service to assist users of the Clearinghouse.
Rigorously assess the evidence for policies and interventions aimed at closing the gap in Indigenous disadvantage.
Subject specialists are engaged to rigorously assess and summarise selected research and evaluations and rate the effectiveness of the particular activity or program.
Improve the coordination of research and evaluation efforts across Australia.
The Clearinghouse maintains an online register of research and evaluation projects across Australia relevant to Indigenous outcomes (in progress or completed in the last three years). The focus of the Register is on projects commissioned or funded by Australian governments.
Identify gaps in the available evidence on what works to close the gaps in Indigenous disadvantage.
The Clearinghouse produces an annual paper on the gaps in the research and evaluation evidence for what works, with recommendations for addressing those gaps.
Sensitivity statement
Language
The Closing the Gap Clearinghouse uses the term 'Indigenous Australians' to refer to Australia's first people. This term refers to 'Aboriginal Australians' and 'Torres Strait Islander people'. The Clearinghouse Collections may contain words and descriptions that are culturally insensitive and not appropriate for contemporary use. Terms and annotations which reflect the author's attitude or that of the period in which the item was written may be considered inappropriate today.
Deceased persons
Users of the Clearinghouse Collections should be aware that it may include images of deceased persons. In some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, seeing images of deceased persons may cause distress or sadness and, in some cases, offend against strongly held cultural traditions.