Blog

Call to stop inflation impacting Indigenous ranger work

Posted: May 29th, 2023

Country Needs People (CNP), the national not-for-profit supporting Indigenous land and sea management, is urging the Federal Government to make sure inflation does not undermine the important work of Indigenous rangers and Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs) in looking after Country.

With inflation running at more than seven per cent, CNP is concerned indexation of the Indigenous land and sea sector is not keeping up with inflation and effectively means a cut to their land and sea management efforts, if not addressed.

“We understand Indigenous ranger contracts nationally have an inflation adjustment figure of 1.6% or less per annum which is woefully inadequate,” CNP CEO Patrick O’Leary said. “If something does not change this will equate to millions of dollars of effective cuts across the sector, which will be felt keenly at the grassroots level by every group.”

CNP is calling on the Federal Government to ensure there is an automatic adjustment in the contracts of each Indigenous ranger team – and IPA – to ensure their operating funds do not suffer cuts in real terms, allowing them to have the resources they need to look after Country.

Read more about CNP’s concerns. YMAC’s Land and Sea Management unit provides support for the Nyangumarta rangers program.

Affirmation for reconciliation at virtual breakfast

Posted: May 25th, 2023

YMAC congratulates Reconciliation WA and Reconciliation Australia on a fantastic and timely National Reconciliation Week Virtual Breakfast today.

Following YMAC’s endorsement of the “yes” vote in relation to the referendum question on an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, the breakfast event highlighted the vital importance of an Aboriginal Voice to Parliament.

The event was broadcast live from Boola Bardip WA Museum to participants across the State, in the lead-up to National Reconciliation Week from 27 May until 3 June. YMAC’s staff joined thousands of viewers across Western Australia from its head office in Perth and regional offices in Carnarvon, Hedland, Broome and Geraldton.

This year’s theme – “Be a voice for generations” – is very fitting in this referendum year. After a Welcome to Country from Aunty Robyn Collard, the event line-up included a mix of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal leaders speaking of their commitment to reconciliation and presenting compelling reasons to vote “yes” in the referendum later this year.

Find out what’s happening in WA during National Reconciliation Week

YMAC staff and guests watching former Socceroo Craig Foster speak during the breakfast.

WA Biodiscovery Bill information sessions

Posted: May 2nd, 2023

The State Government’s Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation is developing new biodiscovery legislation for Western Australia and holding information sessions across the State during May.

The Biodiscovery Bill will set out processes to ensure that, if Traditional Knowledge associated with a genetic resource has been shared with a researcher, the benefits are shared with the Traditional Knowledge custodians on mutually agreed terms.

The information sessions will detail recommendations from the first consultation phase in 2022 and a proposed model for the Bill. Dates and location are as follows:

• Broome: 10am-2pm, Friday, 12 May
• Kununurra: 10am-2pm, Monday, 15 May
• Albany: 10am-2pm, Monday, 22 May
• Port Hedland: 10am-2pm, Wednesday, 24 May
• Kalgoorlie: 10am-2pm, Friday, 26 May
• Geraldton: 10am-2pm, Monday, 29 May
• Perth: 1pm-5pm, Wednesday, 31 May

The sessions will be facilitated by Roanna Edwards from PricewaterhouseCoopers Indigenous Consulting. Register your place here and learn more at the WA Biodiscovery Bill website.

While the department is unable to pay sitting fees for attendance, it may be able to provide support for Traditional Owners to travel to attend a workshop. Email biodiscovery@jtsi.wa.gov.au or call (08) 6277 3000 to discuss.

Up to $60,000 grants available for Aboriginal arts

Posted: May 1st, 2023

The Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries is offering grants between $15,000 and $60,000 for Aboriginal artists, creative industry professionals and organisations to deliver one-off projects or a single program of activity.

Applications for the Arts 15k-plus grant program should meet one or more of the following objectives:

• promoting or facilitating greater engagement of Aboriginal communities in the arts
• encouraging the expression of traditional and contemporary Aboriginal culture, individuality, spirituality and empowerment through the arts
• encouraging the involvement of Aboriginal arts expertise, skills, knowledge and resources
• supporting long-term skills development goals for Aboriginal artists, arts workers and communities
• supporting Aboriginal cultural maintenance
• delivering artistic and social outcomes for Aboriginal communities through the arts.

Read more about the guidelines. Applications close 4pm, 1 June, for events or projects starting 1 September 2023.

AEC launches Referendum Disinformation Register

Posted: April 28th, 2023

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has launched a Referendum Disinformation Register to help stop mistruths spreading about referendum processes, in relation to the Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

As part of this, the AEC has made it clear it is not fact-checking claims about the Yes or No case for a referendum, nor is it seeking to censor debate in any way – the register is about the processes surrounding how the referendum works.

“The message here is simple,” Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers said. “The AEC will not tolerate the spread of mistruths about our referendum processes, no matter the source.

“While we’ll be active in communicating about referendum processes, it’s up to voters to stop and consider information they see, hear or read from ‘yes’ and ‘no’ campaigns.

“The Australian vote belongs to all Australians and there is freedom of political communication. However, if you spread incorrect information about the process we run – deliberately or otherwise – we will correct you.”

The register also includes a section to help readers identify tactics used to spread electoral disinformation.

National Indigenous Carbon Forum

Posted: April 3rd, 2023

The Indigenous Carbon Industry Network (ICIN) is holding the second annual National Indigenous Carbon Forum on Yugambeh Country (Gold Coast, Queensland) from 16 to 18 May.

The 2023 forum is a hybrid event, held both in-person and online. With a strong emphasis on Indigenous-led discussions, it features presentations from First Nations rangers and land managers to scientists, policy-makers, market specialists and others in the industry.

“It’s really important that we, as First Nations people, build strategic partnerships with people and organisations that want to see us succeed,” ICIN Co-Chair Cissy Gore-Birch said.

“This is a growing industry and, as traditional leaders of this country, we want to take advantage of these opportunities. We can see that the carbon industry has really benefited our people in moving forward. We want to work with strategic partners to continue to improve and keep evolving and keeping up with the times but also making sure that the traditional knowledge is not missed.”

Find out more about what’s on offer over the three days.

Reach a peak at First Nations women’s summit

Posted: March 17th, 2023

Registrations are now open for the inaugural Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women’s Voices) First Nations Women and Girls National Summit.

Presented by the Australian Human Rights Commission, the summit is being held at the National Convention Centre on Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country (Canberra) from 9-11 May (with a youth forum on 8 May).

General registrations are for First Nations women only (including those who identify as cis, trans and non-binary) while the youth forum is for First Nations women aged 18 to 30.

Several funded places are available for First Nations women over 18 to attend the entire summit, funded by the Australian Human Rights Commission. Complete the application form.

Register for the summit – for enquiries, email wiyiyani.uthangani@humanrights.gov.au.

Share in $10 million of regional grant funding

Posted: March 14th, 2023

Qantas is inviting regional community groups across Australia to apply for a share of $10 million over five years as part of its regional grants program.

The grants – which include a combination of flights, cash and marketing support – are open to individuals, not-for-profit community groups and organisations of any size that are seeking funding to help enhance the lives of people in regional communities.

Funding is available for First Nations programs, youth, schools and education, children and family, sustainability, natural disaster recovery, tourism and heritage, research, health and wellbeing, human services, agriculture and farming, sports and recreation, and the arts and screen industry.

Applications close 10 May – visit the Qantas website for more details.

$7 million in grants for community environmental projects

Posted: March 8th, 2023

The State Government is offering $7 million for community land and water conservation initiatives through its 2023 Community Stewardship Grants program.

First Nations organisations, schools, natural resource management (NRM) groups, local governments, community resource centres and recognised biosecurity groups can apply.

Small grants between $1000 and $50,000 are available for short-term projects and large grants from $50,000 to $450,000 are on offer for longer term activities.

Examples of eligible activities include capturing or implementing Traditional Knowledge of Country, dealing with invasive species, sustainable or regenerative agriculture, remnant vegetation protection, revegetation, threatened species protection, data collection, information sharing, planning, research, technical advice, infrastructure and training and skills development.

Applications close midday, 1 May – visit the State Government’s grant information page for details.