Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation

Aug9 2012

Congratulations to YMAC’s Nyaparu Rose – Landcare Award Finalist

Posted: August 9th, 2012

Filed under: 2012 National Landcare Awards, Coastal Protection, Landcare Australia, Nyaparu Rose, Pilbara, Pilbara Indigenous Marine Reference Group, YMAC

The finalists for the 2012 National Landcare Awards have been announced, and all Australians can get involved by voting in the ‘People’s Choice’ category.

Landcare is a community based volunteer movement made up of individuals and groups who work on managing environmental issues in their local areas. The awards aim to showcase the breadth and diversity of the work undertaken by people across the country who volunteer their time to protect Australia’s land and coast.

YMAC would like to extend a special congratulations to Nyangumarta woman, Nyaparu Rose, who has been selected as a finalist. Ms Rose has worked tirelessly with Pilbara Traditional Owners to ensure their voice is heard in discussions about the management of coastal and marine environments in the region.

Ms Rose helped to establish the Pilbara Indigenous Marine Reference Group (PIMRG), which includes representatives from six Pilbara Traditional Owner groups. The PIMRG aims to consolidate traditional knowledge from the region so that Traditional Owners can more effectively conduct negotiations with government and industry on cultural and coastal protection.

If you would like to vote for Nyaparu Rose in the National Landcare Awards, click here and follow the prompts. Ms Rose is in category 7, under ‘WA – Yamatji Marlpa’.

Voting closes 4pm (EST) Tuesday 4th September, and winners will be announced that day at the Awards ceremony, held at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre.

YMAC would like to congratulate all finalists who have been nominated for an award.

Click here for more information on Nyaparu Rose’s achievements, and here for a list of all the other 2012 Landcare Awards finalists.

Aug7 2012

Native Title Stories: Susan Oakley

Posted: August 7th, 2012

Filed under: Malgana, native title, Pilbara Regional Committee, Susan Oakley, Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation, YMAC Board of Directors

Watch Yamatji Committee member Susan Oakley share her experiences and reflections on native title in Australia.

This is the second in a series of interviews with our Committee and Board Members, in which they share their stories of country and culture. To see the previous interview with Yamatji Committee member Ben Roberts, click here.

Aug3 2012

Take part in national Indigenous suicide prevention forums

Posted: August 3rd, 2012

Filed under: Department of Health, Menzies School of Health Research, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Strategy, National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation

A series of consultation forums on the subject of Indigenous suicide prevention will be held across Australia throughout August and September this year.

The Department of Health and Aging, the Menzies School of Health Research and the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) are working towards a National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Strategy, which will coordinate programs and resources aimed at preventing Indigenous suicide in Australia.

The consultation forums aim to generate feedback and advice on the proposed strategy. All agencies, groups, communities and individuals involved in the field of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing are encouraged to attend, to ensure that their voices are reflected in the national strategy.

The WA forums will be held in Perth and Broome at the following venues:

– Perth: Tuesday 7 August, 2012 at Burswood Park, Roger MacKay Drive
– Broome: Thursday 9 August, 2012 at Goolarri Media Gemme Club

If you would like to attend a community consultation forum, please register online or contact the project team on (08) 8943 5017 or email preventsuicide@menzies.edu.au

If you cannot attend a forum, there is also the opportunity to complete a public input form or submit an outline of your existing suicide prevention program, via email preventsuicide@menzies.edu.au or post:

National Suicide Consultation
Menzies School of Health Research
PO Box 41096
Casuarina NT 0811

All resources contributing to the consultative process are appreciated.

For more information on the Community Consultative Forums, including a full list of locations and dates, contact the Project Coordination Team via the details above, or visit the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Strategy website.

Aug2 2012

Lunchtime Learning with Fred Taylor – Making a positive impact on Aboriginal families

Posted: August 2nd, 2012

Filed under: CityHive, Fred Taylor, Geraldton, Pollinators Inc, Yamatji Mining and Civil

Lunchtime Learning sessions at CityHive in Geraldton are a simple yet invigorating affair, designed to give you an injection of inspiration mid-day, mid-week. The free sessions run from 12:35 to 13:35 so they fit within lunch hour, and are byo lunch. Participation is for Pollinators members, and you can sign up on the day.

On Wednesday, 8 August Fred Taylor will be presenting on “Making a positive impact on Aboriginal families”. The session is free, but registration is required.

Click here for more information and to register for the event.

Fred Taylor is a Yamatji senior and leader in the Yamatji community, is a custodian of the country and is recognised as a spokesperson for the Yamatji region. He has extensive experience as a public officer in Aboriginal and Government agencies. He has worked as the Regional Manager and Aboriginal Liason Officer for the Yamatji Land and Sea Council and has also worked for the Midwest, Gascoyne & Murchison Areas Native Title Working Group.

CityHive is a social enterprise operated by Pollinators Inc, a non-profit, member-based organisation serving a growing community of social entrepreneurs. Pollinators Inc provides information, training, coaching, support and the physical, cultural and institutional ‘space’ to our region’s social entrepreneurs to take their ideas to the next level. For more information on CityHive Geraldton, visit their website, or click here to learn more about Pollinators Inc.

Jul31 2012

Singers and Stall Holders Wanted for the Red Earth Arts Festival 2012

Posted: July 31st, 2012

Filed under: Dampier, Karratha, PAN International., Pilbara, Point Samson, Red Earth Arts Festival, Roebourne, Shire of Roebourne, Wickham

The Red Earth Arts Festival 2012 kicks off later next month in the Shire of Roebourne, and organisers are seeking people to perform in a mass choir at the ‘Voices and Lights’ event taking place on Sunday 2 September 2012 at Hearson’s Cove.

You don’t need to be a ‘singer’ to join the choir, just the enthusiasm to take part!

There will be a series of rehearsals leading up to the event, starting on Monday 20 August 2012. For more information, or to register your interest, please contact Tangiora Hinaki on 0437 921 445 or email reafchoir@gmail.com

Organisers are also looking for stall holders to take part in the Karratha Community Celebration, which will be held on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 September 2012. The KCC is will be the final event of the festival, and is expected to attract an audience of over 5000 local community members.

This is a great opportunity for you to sell and showcase your wares. Both food and crafts-related stalls are welcome, and community/sporting groups who are looking to attract new members are also encouraged to apply.

If you are interested, please contact Tamsin Young on 0414 540 900 or email tamsin.y@paninternational.com.au by Friday 3 August 2012 to apply.

The Red Earth Arts Festival 2012, run by PAN International, will take place from 31st August to 23rd September 2012 across Karratha, Dampier, Roebourne, Wickham and Point Samson.

Under this year’s theme, “Bringing the World to the Pilbara”, the REAF aims to give both local and external artists from a wide range of backgrounds the chance to exhibit their work. The festival will present creative and professional development workshops, performances from local arts and cultural groups, and entertainment from across the country. For more information, visit the festival’s website.

Jul24 2012

Applications Open for a Chance to Visit Oxford and Cambridge Universities in the UK

Posted: July 24th, 2012

Filed under: Cambridge University, Charlie Perkins Scholarship Trust, Indigenous Scholarships., Oxford University., Tertiary Education, The Aurora Project

Would you like to head overseas to the UK on a tour of Cambridge and Oxford Universities?

The Charlie Perkins Scholarship Trust and The Aurora Project are seeking applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander university undergraduates to participate in a UK tour of these highly regarded universities in October this year. The visit may also include a stopover at Harvard and New York Universities in the US.

Applicants must have completed at least one year of their university course, and can be in their honours year. Overall preference will be given to students in their final years of study, but university graduates who are wishing to undertake further study are also encouraged to apply. The successful applicants will be chosen primarily on the basis of academic achievement (Distinction or higher), but also on the basis of their potential to become leaders in their field and in their communities. There is also the opportunity for these students to become Charlie Perkins Scholars in the future.

The project aims to provide Indigenous students with the opportunity to meet with academics in their field at Cambridge and Oxford. The trip will take place over one week in mid-October, with the possibility of extension to a second week if the US leg proceeds. Costs associated with travel, accommodation and meals will all be covered.

To be considered, applicants should email the following documents to fi.belcher@auroraproject.com.au by 5pm on Wednesday 1 August 2012:

– a cover letter

– a curriculum vitae

– an official transcript of university results (including mid-year results if available)

– confirmation of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent through a signed, written statement (including common seal) of an Aboriginal Heritage Association, Aboriginal Corporation or Land Council in the community where you live or have lived

– details for two academic referees (email and telephone numbers)

Any questions about the application process should be emailed to Fi Belcher at the above email address, and include a contact phone number.

To read about the experiences of students who attended last year’s trip, visit the Charlie Perkins Trust 2011 testimonials. Four students from last year’s tour will be commencing study at Cambridge and Oxford in October this year, three of which received Charlie Perkins Scholarships.

Applications for this year’s Charlie Perkins Scholarships will open Monday 6 August 2012, and must be submitted by 5pm AEST on Friday 5 October 2012. For more details about Charlie Perkins Scholarships to Oxford and Cambridge, including eligibility and application requirements, visit the Charlie Perkins website.

If you are interested in staying up to date with Australian scholarships for Indigenous students, visit http://www.indigenousscholarships.com.au/

Jul20 2012

YMAC Congratulates Janet Stewart for NAIDOC Award!

Posted: July 20th, 2012

Filed under: Mothers Against Drugs., Mothers of Australia Shed, NAIDOC 2012 awards, NAIDOC Week 2012, Nyangumarta, Pilbara Indigenous Women's Aboriginal Corporation, South Hedland, Wangka Maya

YMAC would like to extend a big congratulations to Janet Stewart, who was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2012 Hedland NAIDOC Awards two weekends ago for her work mentoring Aboriginal chidlren.

Mrs Stewart is Nyangumarta woman and local teacher at South Hedland Primary School, where she teaches traditional language.

She has also helped to establish Nyangumarta dictionaries through the Wangka Maya Aboriginal Language Centre, and is strongly involved in several Indigenous women’s organisations such as the Mothers of Australia Shed, Pilbara Indigenous Women’s Aboriginal Corporation and Mothers Against Drugs.

We also congratulate all other nominees, finalists and award winners.

For more information about NAIDOC week 2012, visit the NAIDOC website.

Jul19 2012

Are You The Next Pilbara Girl?

Posted: July 19th, 2012

Filed under: Goolarri Media, Karratha, Pilbara, Pilbara Girl, Port Hedland, Roebourne

The final heats for Pilbara Girl 2012 are coming up, and after the success of this week’s workshops in Port Hedland, there are still a few places left to be in the running for the crown.

Workshops will be run in Roebourne from Monday 23rd July to Friday 27th July, followed by a final heat on the Friday evening at 7pm. The workshops and heat will both take place at the Roebourne Community Hall.

The final contestants will then attend workshops in Karratha the following week from Monday 30th July to Friday 3rd August at the Youth Shed, before partaking in the final pageant on Friday 3rd August at 7pm, at the Tambrey Centre, Karratha.

The workshops aim to promote leadership skills and build self confidence, while the pageants showcase the beauty of our local Indigenous women and culture to the wider community.

Indigenous women aged 16 to 25 from Karratha, Roebourne and surrounding communities are encouraged to apply. If you are interested, please contact Nommie Wade on (08) 9195 5333, or email events@gme.com.au

The program is also looking for volunteers for the Roebourne final heat on the 27th July, and the Karratha final pageant on the 3rd August. Six ladies are needed to help the girls change backstage on both nights.

There is also the opportunity for community groups to fundraise on each night.

The organisers are additionally looking for an Indigenous person to share their personal journey with the girls during the workshops. If you have a story about overcoming obstacles that you think will inspire his year’s Pilbara Girls, please contact Tangiora Hinaki on 0437 921 445, or email hinakihard@bigpond.com

For more information on previous Pilbara Girl programs, visit Goolarri Media’s website.

Jul13 2012

Nominations Open for Regional Achievement and Community Awards

Posted: July 13th, 2012

Filed under: Awards Australia, Department of Regional Development and Lands, Regional Achievement and Community Awards, West Australian, West Australian Regional Newspapers.

Do you know someone who deserves recognition for their work in regional communities?

The Regional Achievement and Community Awards invites you to nominate an organisation, club, group, business or individual who you believe deserves an award for their work in regional and rural areas. Many people who contribute towards community development don’t expect recognition, but awards such as these create an opportunity to say ‘thanks’ to those who do.

There are nine categories for nomination, including:

– Rinehart Family Volunteering Award
– CSBP Environment Awary
– Curtin University Teaching Excellence Award
– Horizon Power Leadershop and Innovation Award
– Department of Indigineous Affairs Indigenous Service Award
– Prime Super Community Group of the Year
– LandCorp Sustainability Award
– Perth Airport Events and Tourism Award

Additionally, one of these nine category winners will also be named as the overall WA winner of the Department of Regional Development and Lands Regional Achievement Community Award.

Winners will each receive a $2000 Smart Access Account from the Commonwealth Bank.

Nominations close 21 August 2012, and winners will be announced at the awards presentation gala held at the Perth Convention Centre, on Friday 16th November 2012.

Entry forms are available at all Commonwealth Bank Branches, or can be downloaded from the Awards Australia website.

For further information, or to have a nomination form posted to you, call (08) 9201 2255 or email wa@awardsaustralia.com

Posts By: Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation