2011

National Sorry Day

Posted: May 26th, 2011

Filed under: National Reconciliation Week, National Sorry Day

Today is ‘National Sorry Day’, an event held each year on 26 May to express regret over the historical mistreatment of Aboriginal people. The day was chosen in commemoration of the Bringing Them Home report being handed to the federal government on 26 May 1997.

From 27 May till 3 June its also National Reconciliation Week (NRW), which celebrates the rich culture and history of the First Australians.

For more information on this event, visit: http://www.reconciliation.org.au/home

Geraldton community to have their say about constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

Posted: May 19th, 2011

Filed under: Constitutional recognition, FAHCSIA, Geraldton

To address the issue of constitutional recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,the Australian Government has appointed an expert panel, co-chaired by Professor Patrick Dodson and Mr Mark Leibler AC.

The panel is undertaking a broad national consultation program to seek views from across the Australian community about ideas for recognising Indigenous Australians in our nation’s Constitution.

Mr Fred Chaney and Mr Bill Lawson will be holding a public consultation in Geraldton on Wednesday 25 May 2011 12:30pm at 2:30pm at the Ocean Centre Hotel in Geraldton.

This event offers an opportunity for the Geraldton community to join this important national conversation, to hear about the work of the Expert Panel and more importantly to offer their views and ideas about Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Australians.

To learn more about the national discussion on constitutional recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, check out the You Me Unity website. To learn more about the expert panel click here.

For more information about the public consultation in Geraldton or to RSVP to the event call  (02) 6219 7759 or email  James.Malar@fahcsia.gov.au

YMAC Regional Committee and Board of Directors Meetings

Posted: May 11th, 2011

Filed under: Board, Exmouth, Pilbara Regional Committee

Last week the Yamatji Regional Committee and the Pilbara Regional Committee met in Exmouth for the second Regional Committee meetings of 2011. The Regional Committee meetings were followed by a meeting of the Board of Directors.

Attendance was high as the Board and Committee members met to discuss YMAC’s policy direction. The Board and Committees received updates from legal, research and communications units, and an overview of YMAC’s achievements since the last Committee meetings. The Committee members also used the opportunity to discuss heritage and cultural issues in the regions.

YMAC is run by our Board of Directors made up of 12 Aboriginal people who have been chosen by our members from the Regional Committees. The Board of Directors makes important policy decisions and sets the direction for YMAC.

Both regions have their own Regional Committee to represent the concerns and interests of the different communities in their region. Each region elects its own Regional Committee members.

All members are eligible to nominate for their Regional Committee. Membership is open to all Yamatji and Marlpa adults. If you would like to become a YMAC member click here to download a YMAC membership form.

Applications open for Community Liaison Officers

Posted: May 3rd, 2011

Filed under: Community Liaison Officer, Geraldton, job vacancy, Karratha, Port Hedland

YMAC is seeking motivated and enthusiastic individuals who have a strong desire to work with Aboriginal communities within the Yamatji and Pilbara regions and advancing their interests through the native title process.

There are positions based in YMAC’s Geraldton, Karratha and South Hedland Offices.

You would be working to ensure claimants are informed and can participate in the management of their native title claims. You would also be acting as a source of information to the community about the organisation, the native title act and other relevant matters.

To be considered for this position, you must address briefly in your letter the following selection criteria:

• Ability to effectively and sensitively communicate and work within a team environment

• Excellent verbal, written, communication skills

• Proficiency with computers

• Good understanding of Aboriginal people, their culture and decision making processes

• Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills

• Current unrestricted manual ‘C’ class license is essential.

For further information about this position, please contact Human Resources on (08) 9268 7000.

Under S.50 (d) of the Equal Opportunity Act, an applicant’s Indigenous background is a genuine occupational qualification.

Job descriptions and an application form are available on our website www.yamatji.org.au, or contact Human Resources on (08) 9268 7000 or email jobs@ymac.org.au.

All applications must include a covering letter, completed application form, resume, and a statement addressing the selection criteria.

Applications can be posted to PO Box 3072, 256 Adelaide Terrace, Perth WA 6000, faxed to (08) 9268 7049 or emailed to jobs@ymac.org.au

Closing date for the above positions is 4.00pm Friday 20th May 2011

Meet a YMAC Director

Posted: April 28th, 2011

Filed under: Board, Natlaie parker, Nyiyaparli, YMAC Director

Natalie Parker

Natalie is a Nyiyaparli woman from the central Pilbara region who is well known in the community for her leadership capacity.  Natalie represents her community on the board of the Gumula Aboriginal Corporation, Gumula Enterprises Pty Ltd, Meta Maya Aboriginal Corporation as well as being the first female co-chair of Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC).


Natalie’s enjoys camping on country and spending quality time with her grandchildren. Her aspirations for the future include improvements in health, education and economic opportunities for Aboriginal people, and to see recognition of culture and a strong future for all.

Leadership program for young Aboriginal West Australians

Posted: April 19th, 2011

Filed under: Department of Communities, youth leadership

Nominations are now open for the Department of Communities’ One Sky, Many Paths Indigenous leadership program.

The program comprises:

• distance education where students learn online within their own community

• two residential week long conferences in Perth with an array of amazing Aboriginal speakers and leadership experiences

• a community project which participants will be responsible for creating, developing and implementing over a ten week period.

The training is accredited and conducted by Challenger Institute of Technology and participants will have a local mentor to help with their community project.

The residential weeks for young men are in May and August, and for young women in September and November.

 For more information and to download the nomination form go to www.youth.wa.gov.au. Participants will need someone to nominate them, a family member, community leader or elder and all applicants have to be Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander living in Western Australia and aged between 18 and 25 years.

The deadline to apply is 2nd May 2011.

YMAC CEO in Saturday’s West Australian

Posted: April 18th, 2011

Filed under: agreement, Simon Hawkins, West Australian

Applications open for Community Liaison Officer

Posted: April 11th, 2011

Filed under: Community Liaison Officer, job vacancy

YMAC is seeking a motivated and enthusiastic individual who has a strong desire to work with Aboriginal communities within the Yamatji region and advancing their interests through the native title process. This position is based in YMAC’s Geraldton Office.

You would be working to ensure claimants are informed and can participate in the management of their native title claims. You would also be acting as a source of information to the community about the organisation, the native title act and other relevant matters.

To be considered for this position, you must address briefly in your letter the following selection criteria:

• Ability to effectively and sensitively communicate and work within a team environment
• Excellent verbal, written, communication skills
• Proficiency with computers
• Good understanding of Aboriginal people, their culture and decision making processes
• Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills
• Current unrestricted manual ‘C’ class license is essential.

For further information about this position, please contact Human Resources on (08) 9268 7000.

Under S.50 (d) of the Equal Opportunity Act, an applicant’s Indigenous background is a genuine occupational qualification.

Job descriptions and an application form are available on our website https://www.ymac.org.au/go/careers, or contact Human Resources on (08) 9268 7000 or email jobs@ymac.org.au.

All applications must include a covering letter, completed application form, resume, and a statement addressing the selection criteria.

Applications can be posted to PO Box 3072, Adelaide Terrace, Perth WA 6000, faxed to (08) 9268 7049 or emailed to jobs@ymac.org.au

Closing date for the above positions is 4.00pm Tuesday 26th April 2011

Wajarri dictionary launch in Geraldton

Posted: April 4th, 2011

Filed under: Bundiyarra, Geraldton, Irra-Wangga Geraldton Language Program, Wajarri

On Tuesday, 12 April the Irra-Wangga Geraldton Language Program will launch a Wajarri Dictionary at an event in Geraldton. The dictionary will be published through Irra-Wangga with funding from the Commonwealth Government’s Maintenance of Indigenous Languages and Records Program, and is largely the work of linguist Doreen Mackman. The dictionary will be for sale through Irra-Wangga at Bundiyarra Aboriginal Corporation.

The launch of the dictionary is open to the public. It begins at 6:30pm on the Geraldton foreshore near the Dome cafe. There will be speeches, a performance by the Mayu performers and a free screening of the 1984 film “Fringe Dwellers”.




Wajarri Yamatji country