June 2021

2021 Pilbara Community Services Excellence Awards

Posted: June 21st, 2021

Photo Credit: Val Walker and Kathy Brooker

On Saturday, 19 June, at the Red Earth Arts Precinct in Karratha, the 2021 Pilbara Community Services Excellence Awards’ Gala Dinner was held. The awards celebrated the resilience, creativity, collaboration and leadership of both individuals and organisations working in the community services sector across the Pilbara.

YMAC was proud to be a supporter of this event, once again; this year sponsoring the award category “Community Spirit (Volunteer)”. When presenting this award on the night, YMAC’s Co-Chairperson, Pilbara Region – Board of Directors, Mrs Natalie Parker, acknowledged:

“YMAC chose to sponsor this award, in particular, as we feel it is so important to recognise individuals in our community who go above and beyond to help others. These are people who choose to generously and selflessly give their time and energy to support and uplift other people, and whose work positively impacts the wellbeing of our community overall. We all share a responsibility in pursuing a bright future for our region and its people, and this is achieved by us working together, supporting one another, and combining our strength, resilience and empowerment to overcome challenges and create opportunities. The finalists in this category are all excellent examples of people in our community who demonstrate such impressive dedication and commitment, and who each make outstanding contributions to the betterment of the Pilbara region.”

YMAC’s congratulations go to the joint Community Spirit (Volunteer) award winners: Val Walker and Kathy Brooker (pictured with Mrs Parker (far right) and YMAC’s Deputy Co-Chairperson, Pilbara Region – Board of Directors, Mrs Doris Eaton (far left)).

YMAC supports new First Nations Talent Portal

Posted: June 21st, 2021

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has launched its First Nations Talent Portal. The portal represents the ABC’s commitment to undertaking braver, more impactful action.

As it grows, the portal will become an invaluable resource for the ABC by enabling story-makers and content producers access to the right people for their projects.

YMAC supports the ABC’s commitment to amplifying the voices of First Nations people across their projects from behind the scenes to in front of the camera. This is a positive step to responsibly and appropriately representing Aboriginal culture and history.

We encourage First Nations people to connect directly to the ABC by submitting an interest directly through the Talent Portal.

Register for the 2021 Australian Reconciliation Convention

Posted: June 17th, 2021

The 2021 Australian Reconciliation Convention is a once-in-a-generation event.

With an ever-growing community of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians willing to discuss, learn and recommit to the next steps in Australia’s reconciliation journey, this event aims to propel the reconciliation movement towards braver and more impactful action.

It will include interactive sessions, storytelling, and performances, covering the breadth and depth of how, as a nation, we are moving from safe to brave.

The event will be delivered over two days from Monday 15 November at the International Convention Centre in Sydney and is also available virtually.

2021 marks twenty years of Reconciliation Australia and almost three decades of the Australian formal reconciliation process. Over this time, support and engagement with reconciliation has steadily grown, with far greater awareness of the complexity and magnitude of First Nations cultures and knowledges.

In 2021, reconciliation is more than just raising awareness and knowledge.

If you would like to join the conversation and be part of this landmark event, register before 2 July to take advantage of early-bird pricing.

Nominate someone amazing – Hedland 2021 NAIDOC Awards

Posted: June 9th, 2021

Hedland Aboriginal Strong Leaders are seeking nominations for the Port Hedland NAIDOC Awards.

These awards acknowledge and celebrate the amazing contributions made by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people making their mark in all areas of the community such as culture, the arts and sport.

As part of the seven exceptional awards, An ‘Elder of the Year’ award will be presented in recognition of the importance of our Elders, their leadership and the knowledge they share in our community.

If you know of anyone who deserves to be recognised you can make a nomination here. Nominations don’t have to be lengthy or complex, but they do have to be in by Sunday 27 June, as late nominations won’t be accepted.

The awards will be presented by the Hedland Aboriginal Strong Leaders at the NAIDOC Week Closing Ceremony at South Hedland Town Square on Saturday 10 July 2021.

For more information visit the Town of Port Hedland website.

Aboriginal History Western Australia – Family History Information Sessions – Geraldton

Posted: June 8th, 2021

The Aboriginal History WA (AHWA) team will be holding family history information sessions in Geraldton in June.

You can join Duane Kelly from Aboriginal History WA for free to learn about the many records held at the State Records Office for Aboriginal people research their family history. Dates and times are displayed in the picture or click here .

To register please call Duane on 08 9427 3473, or email duane.kelly@dlgsc.wa.gov.au

Register to attend YMAC meetings on 10, 11 and 14 June about draft Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Bill

Posted: June 4th, 2021

Representatives from Prescribed Bodies Corporate and Traditional Owners from YMAC’s representative region are invited to attend meetings to discuss the draft Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Bill.

YMAC believes there is great risk that should the draft bill circulated in 2020 be adopted, Aboriginal people will continue to take the backseat in critical decisions about important cultural sites. Consultation on the draft bill has been poor and YMAC is concerned Traditional Owners have limited or no understanding of the draft laws.

Agenda includes:

• YMAC update on advocacy work undertaken on the bill to date,
• Discuss outstanding concerns about the draft bill that may negatively impact Traditional Owners if the draft bill in the form distributed in 2020 goes through.
• Discuss action to achieve equity for Traditional Owners in the new laws.

Note: The Pilbara meetings have been called for by concerned Pilbara Traditional Owners and will also include discussion on working together to better protect heritage in the region.

Meetings are being facilitated by YMAC on the following dates.

• Thursday 10 June – Karratha: 9:30am to 2pm at the Red Earth Arts Precinct, 27 Welcome Road Karratha
• Friday 11 June – Port Hedland: 9:30am to 2pm in the Ocean Room at the Hedland Hotel, Cnr Lukis and McGregor Street, Port Hedland
• Monday 14 June – Carnarvon: 9:30am to 2pm, Wool Shed Hall, 21 Robinson Street, Carnarvon

To assist catering please RSVP to jmitchell@ymac.org.au or call YMAC on 1800 270 709 to find out more.