2021

2021 Census participation support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders

Posted: July 28th, 2021

The 2021 Census is happening soon and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff from the Centre of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Statistics have been working with communities across Australia to get Census-ready. Remote communities are counted by Census staff throughout July and August.

It’s important to include all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the count. The data from the 2021 Census will be more important than ever. It will provide valuable insights into how the pandemic has changed life in Australia.
There are various resources to support communities in getting Census-ready. These include a conversation guide, and other materials to help promote participation.

There are also stories about how Census data has benefited Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. For example, how Orange Aboriginal Medical Service used Census data to plan its new well-being centre, Walu-Win, for the local community.

All the resources are available for you to download and share on your channels, as well as help answer any questions from your community.

Health and safety of remote communities and census staff are of the highest priority during the collection process. As the situation of Covid-19 develops across multiple states and territories the collection approach will be adapted to suit local circumstances. Visit the Census website for the latest updates.

You can also get follow on Facebook for up to date information.

Grants program supporting connection to Country

Posted: July 27th, 2021

The State Government of Western Australia has announced a new $25,000 grants program. The Connecting to Country grants program forms part of the State Government’s Commitment to Aboriginal Youth Wellbeing; a comprehensive response to the Coroner’s Inquest and Learnings from the Message Stick report into Aboriginal youth suicide.

The program aims to provide funding support to projects that enable Western Australian Aboriginal people and organisations to undertake on-Country activities that foster the intergenerational transfer of knowledge, preservation of culture and strengthening of communities. Up to $25,000 can be granted for each activity or project.

Applications are now open to community organisations, individuals, local governments, groups, industry representative bodies, education institutions and Aboriginal communities that provide support to culture and arts projects and initiatives that renew links between community, Country and culture. Applications are open until August 26, 2021.

Connecting to Country is administered by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries.  For more information, to view past grant recipients and to submit an application please visit https://www.dlgsc.wa.gov.au/funding/arts-funding/connecting-to-country.

Heal Country – what it means to Raylene Button

Posted: July 9th, 2021

At YMAC we have been inspired by the voices and words of Traditional Owners shared during NAIDOC Week celebrations.

Raylene Button, of Palyku and of Kariyarra Country, paints a beautiful picture of what healing and caring for Country means to her in her own words.

Thank you to Raylene for sharing with us what inspires her.

We invite you to share your special message with us – What does Heal Country mean to you?

CATSI Amendment Bill needs your feedback

Posted: July 9th, 2021

The Australian Government is bringing forward a Bill to amend the CATSI Act in line with recommendations made in the CATSI Act Review final report, released early this year.

The National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) is seeking your feedback on a draft of the CATSI Amendment Bill which has been published on the National Indigenous Australians Agency website.

Accompanying the exposure draft is a guide that maps the recommendations from the final report to the items of the exposure draft. Fact sheets are also available that outline the draft changes in each part of the CATSI Amendment Bill.

The NIAA would like feedback from stakeholders about those aspects of the Bill they support, in addition to any concerns regarding practical barriers or unintended consequences associated with implementation. The NIAA is also interested in feedback on the clarity, readability and complexity of the draft legislation.

Written submissions to CATSIActReview@niaa.gov.au can be sent until 9:00am Monday, 9 August 2021. Or you can register to attend a virtual consultation session here.

Please contact the team at CATSIActReview@niaa.gov.au or on (02) 6271 5111, if the consultation options are not accessible to you so that we can arrange an alternative mechanism for you to provide feedback.

What does Heal Country mean to you? Sean McNeair tells us

Posted: July 8th, 2021

Sean McNeair is a Malgana man from Gutharraguda, Shark Bay. His message in this video covers only a small part of what healing and caring for Country means for Sean.

We ask you to take one minute of time to watch, listen, learn, think, and share – what does Heal Country mean to you?

Thanks to Ben Pankhurst from Bush Heritage for sharing some of his vision to be used in this video.

#healcountry #heritageprotectionforlife#naidocweek2021 #naidocweek #bushheritage #YMAC

Celebrating NAIDOC Week – Heal Country

Posted: July 6th, 2021

This year’s national NAIDOC theme, Heal Country! calls for everyone to continue to recognise the uniqueness of our lands, our waters, our sacred sites and seek greater protections and for Aboriginal cultural heritage.

The right to protect Country and culture is fundamental.

At Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation, YMAC, ‘Heal Country’ perfectly describes the goal that our work aims to achieve.

Everyone has a role to play in healing Country. YMAC strongly believes one key part of this process is reform of the laws underpinning heritage protection – including Western Australia’s Aboriginal Heritage Act (1972). We have been actively advocating for planned new heritage laws to Legislate the right to say ‘no’, consultation rights and the need for Aboriginal heritage to be considered early in a development process and continue to be considered as new information comes to light, both before and after agreements have been made.

The proposed new legislation – the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Bill – represents a once-in-a generation opportunity to make sure Aboriginal cultural heritage gets the recognition it deserves, and to find the right balance between heritage protection and economic outcomes for all parties.

During NAIDOC Week we will share what ‘Heal Country’ means to some of our members and important advocates.

We encourage you to share pictures of your Country and let us at YMAC know, what does ‘Heal Country’ mean to you.

Don’t forget to tag us in your posts!

And if you or someone you know has a special story you would like to share please email us at editor@ymac.org.au so we can get in touch.

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.