Posts By: Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation

Apology Day celebrations in Geraldton

Posted: February 10th, 2011

Filed under: apology, Bundiyarra, Geraldton, Radio MAMA

To celebrate the anniversary of the federal government’s apology to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the Bundiyarra Aboriginal Community Aboriginal Corporation will be hosting a family fun day on the Geraldton foreshore on Sunday, 13 February 10:00-2:00. The alcohol free event will include free activities, entertainment, food, drinks and a live broadcast from Radio MAMA.

Streeties will be providing a free bus service and will be collecting passengers from all the usual pick-up places offered during the school holiday program. For further information contact Bundiayarra at iwrpo@bundiyarra.org.au

The Beauty of the Pilbara on Show in Port Hedland and Perth

Posted: February 8th, 2011

Filed under: Pilbara Project, Spinifex Hill

A group of five artists spent a year touring the Pilbara with their cameras and the result is 52 Weeks On: A Pilbara Project Exhibition. The show features stunning images of how the people, mining industry and ancient country interact.

Their photographs and videos will be on show at the Courthouse Gallery in Port Hedland and FORM Gallery in Perth, with opening events in Perth on 10 February and in Port Hedland on 11 February.

The Pilbara Project is a long-term project which documents, maps, illustrates and celebrates the diverse characteristics of the Pilbara.

The exhibition seeks to engage people to think differently about the Pilbara. While the region has already given the Australian economy so much, it has even more to offer, to multiple people and on multiple fronts.

Pilbara Indigenous Health Services Win Commonwealth Support

Posted: February 1st, 2011

Filed under: Aboriginal health organisations, Jigalong, South Hedland

Three Aboriginal Health Centres in the Pilbara have been successful in securing grants from the federal government, the Minister for Indigenous Health announced yesterday.

The goal of the funding is to help Aboriginal Health Organisations achieve accreditation under Australian quality standards.

For the Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation in Jigalong and the Pilbara Indigenous Women’s Aboriginal Corporation and Bloodwood Tree, both located in South Hedland, this means funding for things like training, office equipment, medical equipment and the accreditation fees.

YMAC congratulates these three Pilbara Aboriginal health organisations on their successful grant applications and on their ongoing work to improve the health and quality of life for the Pilbara Aboriginal community.

ACCO wins Premier’s Active Citizenship Community Group Award

Posted: January 28th, 2011

Filed under: Aboriginal Communities Charitable Organisation, ACCO, Pilbara

                                                                            


YMAC’s Business Development Coordinator, Cris Olegario & YMAC’s Pilbara Regional Manager, Peter Jeffries.

On Australia Day the ‘Aboriginal Communities Charitable Organisation’ (ACCO) was presented with the Premier’s Active Citizenship Community Group Award for their contribution to the Pilbara community.

The ACCO is an excellent example of a regional organisation making a difference to the lives of Aboriginal people and is run by a volunteer staff base, most of whom are Indigenous.

As well as receiving public recognition from the Premier, the ACCO have also been approved for a Lotterywest grant for large commercial refrigerators for their food distribution outlet at TAFE’s Pundulmurra campus in South Hedland. The grant also includes a custom fitted ‘Commercial Kitchen Caravan’ to fully equip ACCO in their pursuit to deliver services to regional and remote communities in the Pilbara.

The Aboriginal Communities Charitable Organisation (ACCO) was formed in late 2008 as a non-profit charitable organisation to help ‘close the gap’ in local Indigenous communities. The idea came about from a common desire to make a difference to the lives of Aboriginal families living in Pilbara’s mining economy, where food and housing prices can be artificially high.

With the support and partnership of Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation, Newcrest Mining and Foodbank the ACCO’s first primary project was the South Hedland Food Distribution Centre. The ACCO’s work aims to: 

• Create a sustainable food supply for families;
• Teach the community to grow food;
• Provide nutrition education; and
• Facilitate training and job placement.

To learn more about the ACCO and their work please contact, Cris Olegario, YMAC’s Community and Business Development Coordinator on (08) 9172 5433.

Apply Now For Pilbara Development Commission Grant

Posted: January 24th, 2011

Filed under: Pilbara Development Commission, Royalties for Regions

Does your community group have a project in mind that requires funding assistance? The final round of the Pilbara Development Commission’s Small Grants Scheme is now open for applications up to $10,000.

As part of Royalties For Regions, the scheme is designed to assist small community groups in the Pilbara with funding for projects up to $10,000.

Applications must be submitted by 4:30 pm, 28 February 2011. For more information, visit www.pdc.wa.gov.au/royalties-for-regions.aspx

If your community group is successful in securing a grant, tell us about it! YMAC loves to hear about our members doing great things for their communities. Email srosenfeld@ymac.org.au to let us know how your community organisation is creating positive change for the Traditional Owners of the Pilbara and Midwest.

Midwest Traditional Owners look forward to agreement outcomes

Posted: January 12th, 2011

Filed under: agreement, Mid West, Peter Jeffries, Ron Shay, Sandfire Resources, Yugunga-Nya

The Yugunga-Nya native title group have announced a claim wide land access agreement over their traditional country with mining company, Sandfire Resources.

Yugunga-Nya country covers approximately 30,335 square kilometres of land in the Midwest region of Western Australia, and includes the mining towns of Meekatharra and Cue.

The land access agreement covers Sandfire Resources DeGrussa copper-gold project, situated 150km north of Meekatharra. The agreement provides a range of financial and non-financial benefits to the Yugunga-Nya community. These include employment and contracting opportunities, as well as cultural awareness training for Sandfire employees. The agreement also includes a position for a Yugunga-Nya member to be employed as an Aboriginal Liaison Officer, further developing the good working relationship established between the community and Sandfire.

Ron Shay is a well respected Yugunga-Nya community member and is looking forward to the new opportunities the land access agreement will bring to his people.

“We already have four Yugunga-Nya people working with Sandfire, but through this agreement we hope to see many more benefits flow through to our community, including future employment and training,” he said.

Peter Jeffries, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC), said, “I would like to congratulate the Yugunga-Nya people on the successful completion of their negotiations with Sandfire Resources and look forward to the opportunities that this agreement will bring to the community.

It’s a great start to the year for Yugunga-Nya and we look forward to many more positive stories for Traditional Owners of the Midwest region in 2011.”

Meet a YMAC Director

Posted: January 10th, 2011

Filed under: Board, Darren Injie, Innawonga

Director, Darren Injie

Darren is a Innawonga man from the central Pilbara and Hamersley Ranges region.

Darren has been involved in Aboriginal advocacy since childhood, attending his first land rights protests while in highschool. In addition to his work for YMAC and the Innawonga native title group, Darren is involved in the Gumula Corporation and is a Director of Ngarda Foundation.

Darren works to ensure Traditional Owners benefit from wealth generated through mining on traditional country in the Pilbara. His vision is to see his people gain economic prosperity through participation in the mainstream economy.

YMAC Christmas Office Hours

Posted: December 20th, 2010

Filed under: Office hours

Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation offices in Perth, Geraldton, Karratha, South Hedland and Tom Price will be closed during the festive season from Friday, 24 December 2010, re-opening on Tuesday, 4 January 2011.


YMAC’s Board of Directors, Pilbara and Yamatji Regional Committees, management and staff would like to wish all members a happy and safe festive season.

Meet a YMAC Director

Posted: December 13th, 2010

Filed under: Board, Malgana, Roy Bellotti

Roy Bellotti – YMAC Director

Roy is a Malgana man who has lived and worked in the Gascoyne region all his life.

Roy has deep connections to the world heritage listed Shark Bay area, where his grandmother and father were both born.

He enjoys the outdoors and regularly camps, hunts and fishes on his country.

He has been a member of the Yamatji Region Executive Committee since November 2004 and YMAC’s Chairperson since February 2008. Roy is well known in the community for his leadership capacity and ability to unite people.