National Indigenous Affairs

Free tools for your group’s governance

Posted: July 21st, 2013

Filed under: Australian Indigenous Governance Institute, Governance, Indigenous Governance Toolkit, Reconciliation Australia

Reconciliation Australia is now offering a free online Indigenous Governance Toolkit.

The Indigenous Governance Toolkit is an online resource developed for Indigenous nations, communities, individuals and organisations searching for information to build their governance. It covers all the basics – your rules, values, culture, membership, leadership, and decision making – and has many examples of ideas that work from other groups, tools to help you get started, and useful guidance to sustain your efforts. You can use the toolkit in many different ways, depending on your circumstances and needs.

Click here to access the free document.

Celebrate NAIDOC week!

Posted: July 8th, 2013

Filed under: Aboriginal Art, Bundiyarra, Geraldton, Indigenous Arts, Indigenous Community Stories, Karratha, NAIDOC, Ngarluma & Yindjibarndi Foundation Ltd, Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation, Yirrkala Bark Petitions 1963, YMAC

NAIDOC week is now well underway, and celebrations are happening all over Australia. The theme for 2013 is “We value the vision: Yirrkala Bark Petitions 1963”.  The theme proudly celebrates the 50th anniversary of the presentation of the Yirrkala Bark Petitions to the Federal Parliament. To read more about the significance of these petitions visit the official NAIDOC website.

There are a huge number of events going on across the Yamatji and Pilbara regions to celebrate NAIDOC this week. Check your local paper for a listing of events. Some highlights will be the Ngarluma & Yindjibarndi Foundation Ltd’s football carnival in Roebourne this weekend, free community events featuring food and music in Karratha on Friday and Sunday, and the NAIDOC awards celebration in South Hedland on Saturday, to name just a few.

YMAC has already been celebrating NAIDOC, with stalls at the Tom Price and Perth opening ceremonies on Sunday, as well as last week’s Bundiyarra cultural celebrations in Geraldton.

If you are in Karratha or South Hedland this week come say hello to YMAC staff at the community events on there.

Dawn service to commemorate 100 years of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Veterans in Service. 7 July 2013

YMAC stall at Bundiyarra cultural celebrations in Geraldton. 3 July 2013 

Last chance to nominate for the 2013 Deadly Awards

Posted: June 26th, 2013

Filed under: 2013 Deadly Awards, Deadlys, Indigenous Arts, Indigenous Awards, Indigenous role-models

Applications are still open for the 2013 Deadly Awards, so if you know someone who is outstanding in the field of music, sport or the arts, or is simply an all-round community role-model, nominate them now!

The Deadly Awards recognise the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to our community, and provide national and local role models to inspire all Australians.

Time is running out, so click here to find out all of this year’s Deadly categories, and here to lodge your nomination.

Entries close 30 June 2013.

Draft Terms of Reference for Native Title Act Review now open for Public Consultation

Posted: June 12th, 2013

Filed under: ALRC, Attorney-General, Australian Law Reform Commission, Mark Dreyfus., Native Title Act

The Federal Government has announced public consultation on draft terms of reference for an inquiry by the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) into certain areas of the native title system.

Under the draft terms of reference, it is proposed that the ALRC inquire into and report on the following two issues under the Native Title Act 1993 (the Act) that can significantly affect the timely and effective resolution of native title claims:

• connection requirements relating to the recognition and scope of native title rights and interests, and
• the identification of barriers, if any, imposed by the Act’s authorisation and joinder provisions to claimants’, and potential claimants’:
  • access to justice, and
  • access to and protection of native title rights and benefits.

Click here to read the full draft terms of reference.

The deadline for submissions is COB, Friday 28 June 2013 (EST). Comments can be sent:

• via email to native.title@ag.gov.au, or by
• mail to:

Happy Reconciliation Week from YMAC

Posted: May 31st, 2013

Filed under: First Australians, National Reconciliation Week, Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation, YMAC

YMAC would like to wish everyone a very happy Reconciliation Week, an event which celebrates the rich culture and history of the First Australians.

For more information on National Reconciliation Week, please visit http://www.reconciliation.org.au/home

YMAC’s Co-Chair Speaks at International Mining Conference

Posted: May 21st, 2013

Filed under: Indigenous Women in Mining., International Mining for Development Centre, Mrs Doris Eaton, New Guinea, Oxfam, SBS, Sexual Violence Action Committee Papa, World Bank

YMAC would like to congratulate our Co-Chairperson, Mrs Doris Eaton, who attended the International Mining for Development Conference yesterday in Sydney.

Mrs Eaton was invited to speak on a panel alongside Ms Katherine Heller from the World Bank, Dr Helen Szoke Chief Executive of Oxfam Australia, and Ms Ume Wainetti, Program Coordinator of the Family and Sexual Violence Action Committee in Papua New Guinea.

Discussion focused on the challenges and opportunities that arise from mining for developing communities across the world, with particular emphasis on how women from these communities can access and make use of mining benefits.

Delegates at the Conference came from over 60 nations.

Please click here to listen to Mrs Eaton’s interview with SBS Radio following the Conference.

For more information, visit the International Mining for Development Centre website.

Next Rounds of Nominations for 2013 National Congress Open Soon

Posted: April 23rd, 2013

Filed under: 2013 National Congress, Indigenous congress, National Congress of Australia's First Peoples, Time for Unity

Each year, the National Congress of First Peoples holds a meeting of 120 members who are elected and appointed as Congress Delegates. The meetings are a key event where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples can come together with the Congress’ elected National Board to share persepectives and recommend strategies on issues that affect indigenous communities and families in Australia.

Although individual delegate nominations are now closed, nominations for organisation delgates will be open from 3 May 2013 and for Co-Chairs from 3 June 2013 (please see timetable below as a guide).

This year’s National Congress meeting takes place 19-21 July in Cairns.

Fore more information, including application and eligibility requirements, visit the National Congress website.



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Parliamentary Conference for Indigenous Women

Posted: April 9th, 2013

Filed under: Canberra, Indigenous Women, Indigenous Women in politics, Oxfam, Straight Talk

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who want to engage with the political system are encouraged to take part in ‘Straight Talk’, an upcoming conference in Canberra focusing on relationship building between Indigenous women and parliamentarians.

The program is run by Oxfam Australia, who will select 60 Indigenous women aged 18 years and over to take part, from a variety of social backgrounds throughout Australia.

While participants do not need political experience, they should be be active in making change and learning new skills.

Straight Talk will be held from 16-21 June in Canberra, with travel, accommodation and meals provided. Applications close 22 April 2013.

For eligibility and application requirements, go to www.oxfam.org.au/explore/indigenous-australia/straight-talk/ and for more information or application assistance, contact Lisa Wojciechowski on (03) 9289 9236.

Applications Open for International Indigenous Photo Competition

Posted: April 4th, 2013

Filed under: Darwin, Indigenous Arts, Indigenous Culture, Through Your Eyes photo competition, World Indigenous Network, World Indigenous Network conference 2013

Are you a budding photographer?

Applications are still open for the Through Your Eyes photo competition, held in conjunction with the 2013 World Indigenous Network (WIN) Conference taking place in Darwin during May this year.

Following the theme ‘through your eyes’, applicants are encouraged to send in photos of  ‘what you see’ – your experiences, your perspective, your passions, your connection to country and culture.

Shortlisted photos will be posted to the WIN website, and will be on display in a gallery during the conference.

Prize packs will be awarded to all winners, who will be announced in the final days of the conference, 27-28 May 2013.

Entries to the competition close Monday 15 April 2013. Click here for eligibility requirements and conditions of entry.

For further information about the World Indigenous Network and the 2013 Darwin conference, please visit the WIN website or phone (02) 6274 1016.