The presentation will discuss the key issues, barriers, challenges and implications that can be drawn out of the conference for capacity development for Indigenous governance in the NT as well as key principles for best practice that have been identified. These should inform the way in which capacity building for governance is carried out. It will also identify some resources which may need to be developed or which already exist to support capacity building for more effective governance and those priority areas that have been identified where capacity for governance needs to be developed.

The paper considers the roles government, the private sector, NGOs and Indigenous organisations play in developing Indigenous capacity for governance in the NT, and in finding the way forward for capacity building for Indigenous governance. It will explore how capacity building can be better coordinated, funded and delivered and put forward some future opportunities and challenges for consideration.

Three possible scenarios could emerge in terms of the impact of governance for the future:
1. Worst case where there is little or no legitimate or effective governance in place for the future, where government and others don’t get the policy right or where community leaders focus on self interest or are apathetic to the benefits of good governance,
2. Status quo where we continue to have ad hoc engagement with communities and continue to operate from service delivery silos, placing increasing pressure on the critical leadership resources in communities, or
3. Where we commit as equal partners with communities, NGOs and government to achieve community responsive coordinated development towards creating socially vibrant, innovative and sustainable communities for our future citizens and their leaders.