Posts By: Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation

Mary G helps busts COVID-19 vaccination myths.

Posted: September 3rd, 2021

Aboriginal personality Mary G and leading Australian paediatric physician, Dr Jonathan Carapetis have teamed up to bust myths and answer questions surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine.

On the night of Wednesday September 8 tune in to the Mary G radio show where the interview will be replayed in full covering some frequently asked questions including:

• Why have Aboriginal people been prioritised to receive the vaccine?
• How it was been implemented for First Nations people around the world
• Why is it still important for everyone to get the vaccine, including pregnant and breastfeeding women?
• How do the vaccines work?

If you’re unable to have a listen more information and the interview can be found at COVID-19 resources for Aboriginal people (healthywa.wa.gov.au)

Outcomes of the 7th Annual Yule River Bush Meeting

Posted: August 30th, 2021

Aboriginal people from across the Pilbara have voted unanimously to reject the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Bill, at the 7^th Annual Yule River Bush Meeting on 25 and 26 August.

The focus of the 2021 meeting was discussion on Aboriginal cultural heritage and the Bill that state Government intends to push through Parliament before the end of this year.

Meeting attendees also shared their disappointment that the State did not send any ministerial representation to have direct conversations about their concerns. The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs was invited to attend but declined, stating he had diary conflict.

The community resolved to march to demonstrate their unhappiness in Perth on Saturday 23 October, and in their own towns, beginning with one in Hedland on Friday 27 August.

For more information on the Yule River meeting, see YMAC’s media release here.

7th Annual On-Country Bush meeting at the Yule River Meeting Place.

Posted: August 20th, 2021

The 7th Annual Yule River bush meeting will be held on Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 August. This year the focus of discussions will be on cultural heritage protection and the 2020 Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Bill draft.

Day one is for Traditional Owners only, to come together to discuss their concerns and how they would like to tackle issues raise.

Day two invites visitors from Government to join the conversations and hear directly from the community.

Yule River has become an important platform for ensuring Traditional Owners remain at the centre of decision-making and we again look forward to involvement from Traditional Owners, government representatives, and stakeholders in 2021.

Please note this COVID Registration of attendance of the event will be required. YMAC will ensure the meeting meets the current State and Local Government guidelines and requires all attendees support these efforts to keep the community safe.

ALL attendees will be required to –

• Have their temperature checked on arrival.
• Sign the attendance register agreeing to adhere to the recommended safety measures and give your name and contact details (including telephone number) for the purpose of contact tracing.

YMAC is required to hold these details for 28 days and pass them to the Department of Health if required;

• Sanitise your hands on arrival and regularly during the course of the meetings; and cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue (or use your elbow).
• Maintain a 1.5m distance (about two arms lengths) from each other.

Face masks will be made available at registration.

Lunch will be provided both days, self-catered camping is available.

This is an alcohol and drug free event, YMAC is unable to pay travel allowance.

RSVP to: lcornell@ymac.org.au

Solid Futures 2022: Aboriginal Traineeship Program

Posted: August 17th, 2021

The Public Sector Commission implements the Solid Futures, Aboriginal Traineeship Program in metropolitan Perth and regional areas each year.

The program gives young (24 and under) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders people an opportunity to work in a government agency whilst completing a Certificate III in Government.

The Commission will deliver briefing sessions in Karratha and Geraldton to locally-based government agencies and interested job seekers to promote the 2022 program. The details for each session and location are below.

KARRATHA

Information session for interested host agencies:

PLACE: Karratha Jobs and Skills Centre /  North Regional TAFE

DATE: Tuesday, 24 August 2021

TIME:  12:00 pm 

Information session for interested trainees/jobseekers:

PLACE: Karratha Jobs and Skills Centre /  North Regional TAFE

DATE: Tuesday, 24 August 2021

TIME:  2:00 pm

GERADLTON

The details for the information session for interested host agencies is below:

PLACE: Geraldton Jobs & Skills Centre /  CENTRAL Regional TAFE

DATE: Thursday, 26 August 2021

TIME:  11:30 am

The details for the information session for interested trainees/jobseekers is below:

PLACE: Geraldton Jobs & Skills Centre /  CENTRAL Regional TAFE

DATE: Thursday, 26 August 2021

TIME:  2:00 pm

Applications for the program open on 30 August 2021 and close on 1 October 2021.

Find out more here: https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/public-sector-commission/aboriginal-traineeship-program

For further information or confirm attendance email aboriginalemployment@psc.wa.gov.au.

March to Protect Aboriginal Cultural Heritage

Posted: August 16th, 2021

The WA Government is finalising the amendments to the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Bill draft.

Now is the time to show you support Traditional Owners’ right to have Heritage Consent – to have the ability to actively participate in the decisions being made about what happens on their Country.

The Kimberley Land Council is coordinating a march in Perth on Thursday 19 August.

Time: 10:30am-2pm

Where: Kings Park to Parliament House

For more information visit the KLC “March for Aboriginal Heritage” facebook event page

Join the call for a First Nations’ ‘Voice to Parliament’ enshrined in the Australian Constitution

Posted: August 13th, 2021

YMAC holds the position that Constitutional recognition must be sought alongside the practical establishment and legislating of a First Nations’ ‘Voice to Parliament’; as, without this, it is feared past failed attempts of creating similar advisory bodies will be repeated.

The Uluru Statement from the Heart was an invitation from our First Nations peoples for all Australians to join them on a road to a better future, together. The Referendum Council for the Uluru Statement has launched a new campaign in support of a First Nations’ ‘Voice to Parliament’ to be enshrined in our Constitution.

The campaign invites everyone to use their voice to join the call to the Australian Government, and send a clear message to local, state and federal representatives, of their support for the ‘Uluru Statement from the Heart’.

To support these efforts, the Referendum Council for the Uluru Statement has created a resource to help you prepare when writing to Federal Members of Parliament, available here.

To read and share the ‘Uluru Statement from the Heart’, visit the website here.

To download the ‘Uluru Statement from the Heart’ supporter kit, which includes several social media banners and tiles to use to demonstrate your support, visit the website here.

YMAC accepts the invitation contained in the Uluru Statement from the Heart and will continue to walk together with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in a movement of the Australian people for a better future.

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?