Advocacy and Law Reform

Advocating for Change

To “Influence policy makers and drive the organisation’s advocacy and reform agenda” is a key objective in YMAC’s Strategic Plan 2021-2025.

This aligns with our position that involving Aboriginal people in decision-making on policies and programs affecting them is fundamental – as is recognising the cultural diversity that exists across local and regional areas within Australia.

YMAC acts to ensure Traditional Owners from our representative regions have appropriate access to government, so that their concerns – and ideas for solutions – are heard.

How do we do this?

YMAC’s Board and CEO actively engage with State and Federal Government to advocate for change. This is done through:

• written and in-person submissions to government policy reviews,
• media statements,
• promoting opportunities for Traditional Owners to engage in consultations,
• YMAC Board and staff and participation in consultation meetings, and
• partnering with others through our membership of the WA Alliance of Representative Bodies and Services Providers, and the National Native Title Council (NNTC).

YMAC also promotes opportunities for Traditional Owners to engage in law reform and support communities to be heard at annual events such as Yule River and Yamatji on Country.

COVID-19 and Advocating for Traditional Owners

YMAC has been monitoring the impact of COVID-19 on communities and native title holders, ensuring that we can advocate where necessary to ensure needs are being met.

To date YMAC has produced the following:

YMAC Letter to Minister for Mines (DMIRS) COVID-19 – March 2020

YMAC Letter to Minister for Aboriginal Affairs- the impact of COVID 19 on the delivery of  the new Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act – March 2020

Signatories to letter to Prime Minister of vaccination uptake in Indigenous Communities – October 2021.