YMAC

YMAC’s New Strategic Plan – Have Your Say!

Posted: March 7th, 2025

Throughout 2025, Think Culture is supporting YMAC with consultation and the development of a new strategic plan for 2026 – 2030.

Think Culture is currently inviting people and organisations connected to YMAC’s work in our Yamatji and Marlpa regions to contribute their thoughts and ideas in this process by completing the online survey.

YMAC is committed to creating a plan that meets the current and future needs and aspirations in our regions, while also fulfilling our governance and native title representative body (NTRB) responsibilities for these areas.

Scan QR code in our flyer below or please click here to complete a survey. Survey closes 30 April.  

Do you want to have your say on the services available for Aboriginal people in Geraldton?

Posted: February 20th, 2025

The Midwest Aboriginal Organisations Alliance (MAOA)  – of which YMAC is a member – want to hear from all Aboriginal people in Geraldton about the services that you may use. Are they doing a good job? Can you access those services? Are there any services you need that aren’t already in Geraldton?

If you are interested in having a say, you can join MAOA at one of two community meetings being held in Geraldton on 25 and 26 February,  See flyer below to learn more.

Congratulations to the Wajarri Yamatji people on their successful Native Title Determination

Posted: February 18th, 2025

Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC) congratulates the Wajarri Yamatji people as they celebrate the Federal Court’s recognition of their connections to Country as Native Title Holders.

The Wajarri Yamatji people are celebrating Part F of their Native Title Determination, held on Southern Yamatji Country at the Geraldton Surf Life Saving Club on Thursday 13 February. The decision handed down by the Honourable Justice Murphy of the Federal Court of Australia was the sixth and final native title determination for the Wajarri Yamatji people, resolving all their claims.

This important event for the Wajarri Yamatji Native Title Holders is the culmination of a legal process spanning almost 30 years. YMAC is proud to have worked with the Wajarri Yamatji people to provide legal advice and other support for this and previous claims.

The determined area covers around 14,706 square kilometres of land and waters in Wajarri Yamatji Country, with the Wajarri Yamatji people also being recognised as holding exclusive native title over around 3,239 square kilometres.

The day’s proceedings ended with cultural dancing from Wajarri Yamatji people and time shared together over lunch.

Read more about the Wajarri Yamatji Determination in our Media Release, and view more images from the Wajarri Yamatji determination in our photo gallery.

Nanda people celebrate the Federal Court’s recognition of their connection to Country as Native Title Holders

Posted: February 18th, 2025

Last Thursday 13 February, the Honourable Justice Murphy of the Federal Court of Australia delivered the Nanda Part C Native Title Determination on Southern Yamatji Country at the Geraldton Surf Life Saving Club. This is the third successful native title determination for the Nanda people, with all native title claims now resolved.

Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC) congratulates the Nanda Native Title Holders, and the Nanda Aboriginal Corporation who will be taking on the important responsibilities of managing the rights and interests associated with this claim.

The area of land determined last week covers around 1,831 square kilometres of land and waters, with Nanda being recognised as holding exclusive native title over around 1,104 square kilometres.

YMAC is proud to have provided legal and other advice to the Nanda claims over the almost 30-year process.

Read more about the Nanda Determination in our Media Release.

You can also check out images from the Nanda determination in our photo gallery.

CSIRO internal Indigenous Research Grants opening soon

Posted: February 3rd, 2025

Applications for CSIRO’s internal Indigenous research grants will be opening on 24 February 2025.

There are four grant categories available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, communities, and organisations, designed to champion Indigenous-led research for the empowerment of community. These categories support a range of projects, from planning to large scale projects, with preference given to medium and large-scale proposals with a 50% co-contribution.

CSIRO research areas and programs include:

• The Living STEM Initiative – connecting Indigenous knowledge to the classroom
• Water – mine-dewater assessment and evaluation for cultural use and benefits
• Addressing the energy transition challenge – overcoming environmental issues such as carbon emission
• Critical minerals – consider historical abandoned mine shafts and mine dumps on Country.

CSIRO also offers research and development support for start-ups and small business, including matched funding of $10,000 – $50,000. Find out more on the CSIRO website.

For more information and to apply, contact Humera Rind at humera.rind@csiro.au or on 0472 793 522.

Badimia Guwaga First Nations Language Project launches with community workshops

Posted: January 31st, 2025

The Badimia Guwaga Team – including the Bundiyarra-Irra Wangga Language Centre, Badimia community members, and linguist Dr James Bednall – have been awarded a $300,810 grant from the Department of Education for the Badimia Guwaga First Nations Language Project.

In partnership with Mount Magnet District High School, the project aims to foster the use of Badimia language in community and assist with the intergenerational transfer of language and culture among Badimia people. The project is led and directed in consultation with Badimia Elders, organisations, and community, with this recent funding expanding an existing online Badimia language learning portal.

Five trainee educators from the local community will receive comprehensive training in Badimia language, with the aim of participating in classroom teaching at Mount Magnet District High School, as well as leading on-Country activities in partnership with the school. This training will bring the educators in line with the Department of Education’s Aboriginal Language Teacher Training.

In-person activities will also be held on-Country for members of the Badimia community, as well as online opportunities for those off-Country.

This project is entirely driven by the Badimia people and carries on the legacy of the late Gami Ollie George. It also aligns with the Yamatji on-Country 2024 Education Call to Action from young people across the region who have called for an opportunity to learn about culture from a young age, as well as language education in both primary and high school so that language can be passed through the generations.

To kick off this exciting program, a series of community workshops will be held from Thursday, 27 February to Sunday, 2 March 2025, in Mount Magnet. To find out more, download the Badimia Community Language Workshop Flyer.

Read more about the Yamatji on-Country Call to Action here.

Managing fire with the Desert Habitat Method

Posted: January 13th, 2025

Nyangumarta Rangers and Traditional Owners, with the Indigenous Desert Alliance, are managing traditional desert fire methods with modern technology using a new tool.

The Desert Habitat Method (DHM) is a transparent measurement tool which can help rangers to plan, track, and improve their work; explain their work to others, including Elders, community members, and stakeholders; report their work to funders; and encourage potential new funders to see the value of supporting their work. This method focuses on fire management, and is a way to measure the outcomes of right way fire on habitat for native animals.

The DHM is currently in the testing phase, with two on-Country workshops held in 2024 bringing together rangers, Elders, and Traditional Owners to work through the new tool, ensuring it will work effectively. Two trials are also planned to be held in 2025.

The project is supported by funding from the Australian Government’s Innovative Biodiversity Monitoring Program.

Watch this short film from the Indigenous Desert Alliance, Nyangumarta Wika Muwarr, about the recent workshop with Nyangumarta rangers and Traditional Owners, where they share their story of connecting ancient fire management with modern tools.

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Images by Salty Davenport

AIATSIS 2025: Call for Abstracts

Posted: January 10th, 2025

The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) is calling for abstracts for their 2025 Summit.

The AIATSIS Summit is a five-day forum for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, academics, native title stakeholders, and legal experts, along with representatives from government, galleries, libraries, archives and museums, to come together to collaborate on issues of importance for First Nations peoples.

This year’s summit will be co-hosted by the Larrakia Nation in Garramilla/Darwin, with the theme ‘Voices of Empowerment: Strengthening our Future’. The theme pays tribute to a world where First Nations people’s rights, knowledge, and voices are respected and valued by all Australians.

The Summit also incorporates a Youth and Emerging Leadership stream. An opportunity to apply for sponsorship will open in January 2025.

The call for abstracts is now open, closing on Friday 24 January 2025.

Download the Call for Abstracts flyer for more information, or visit the AIATSIS website to submit.

Applications open for the Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Water Interest

Posted: January 10th, 2025

Expressions of Interest are invited from First Nations people across WA to join the Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Water Interests (CAWI).

CAWI is an independent body advocating for First Nations peoples’ inland water rights, values, and interests with governments and water stakeholders at national and state levels. CAWI members are committed to elevating the cultural, spiritual, social, economic, and environmental interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Australia.

The Committee is currently seeking people with experience in these areas:

• Western cultural water rights and interests
• Water science
• Management and leadership
• Advocacy and working with government
• Strategic governance and communications
• Policy and planning.

The committee meets face-to-face at least four times a year, and members are remunerated. Travel, accommodation, and meal allowances are arranged by the Department of Climate change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).

Applications close at 9.59pm AWST on Friday 28 February 2025.

Download the Position Description for more information and to apply, or visit the DCCEEW website.