What is the Aboriginal Community Connectors Program (ACCP)?
The ACCP delivers essential community services by providing transport to a safe place, diversion from unsafe situations, referrals to complementary services, mediation or de-escalation where safe to intervene for people who are at risk of harm and assistance to community members to attend local events and activities in the regions.
People accessing ACCP services are often vulnerable, at-risk adults and youth, experiencing challenges in Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD), violence, and mental or physical health issues. Service users may also have mobility challenges due to age, disability, or lack of viable transport options.
The ACCP is community-led and delivered by local Aboriginal organisations employing people in the community. The ACCP contributes to the achievement of community outcomes outlined in the Community Services Outcomes Measurement Framework (safe, healthy, equipped, connected).
The services align with the aims and objectives of key strategic policies and initiatives, including the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, Communities’ Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) Strategy, and the Aboriginal Empowerment Strategy 2022–2032.
Services
The ACCP has evolved over time to meet the specific needs of individual communities. Common service requirements include safe transport, prevention and mediation, supporting community activities and events, referrals and follow ups, supporting youth engagement, and planned medical transport.
The ACCP is delivered in 13 locations in WA: Currently 10 Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) deliver services in 11 locations, while two service providers are non-ACCOs delivering in their respective locations.
The service providers’ local knowledge and connection to the community, and their ability to relate to and support service users enables the delivery of positive outcomes.
The ACCP is collaborative, and the activities aim to complement police, community safety, youth justice, child protection, and mental health services.
Changes to ACCP service delivery
In 2022, the Department of Treasury conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the ACCP and reviewed the longer-term funding of the Program. In 2023, Keogh Bay undertook the Service Redesign Project for the ACCP resulting in a new service model. Service delivery now comprises two streams, core services which all service providers are required to deliver and place based services that are relevant to the capacity of the service provider and are the most appropriate for that location.
Visit the Reforming the Aboriginal Community Connectors Program for more information.
