Yamatji Region News

Applications open for Reconciliation Australia’s ‘Indigenous Governance Awards 2021

Posted: February 4th, 2021

Reconciliation Australia’s ‘Indigenous Governance Program’ recognises, supports, and promotes strong Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander governance and self-determination. More than ever, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and leaders are drawing on 60,000 years plus of First Nations knowledge and culture to adapt to current events with resilience, creativity and decisiveness.

To acknowledge and share such success stories from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations around Australia, each year, Reconciliation Australia runs their ‘Indigenous Governance Awards’. Applying for the awards is a great opportunity to reflect on the governance of your organisation or group and to receive expert advice based on your application (noting, all applications receive feedback from the judging panel).

There are three categories of award for outstanding examples of governance in Indigenous-led:

• non-incorporated initiatives or projects
• small to medium incorporated organisations (under $1 million annual revenue)
• large incorporated organisations ($1 million and over annual revenue)

Category winners will receive $20,000 to assist their organisation, project or initiative, and the highly commended winners in each category will each be awarded $10,000. Additionally, all finalists receive an awards package comprising:

• A 12-month partnership with a high profile corporate partner, who will provide mentoring and assistance in an area identified by the finalist.
• An award to commemorate their achievement.
• Travel for two members from each finalist organisation to attend the awards presentation event.
• A communications package of photos and footage from the judge’s site visit to their organisation.
• Promotion as a finalist in the Indigenous Governance Awards on the awards website and other coverage.

YMAC was honoured to have been acknowledged as a finalist in the ‘Indigenous Governance Awards 2018’. You can see more about this here.

Applications for the ‘Indigenous Governance Awards 2021’ are open now and will close on Wednesday, March 31, 2021.

To find out more about the awards, please visit their website here.

Should you need any assistance completing an application, please contact iga@reconciliation.org.au.

New Mid-West reserves created on Badimia Country

Posted: February 3rd, 2021

Five new conservation reserves in the Mid West have been created on Badimia Country as part of the State Government Plan for Our Parks initiative.

The Badimia traditional owners have been working collaboratively with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions’ Parks and Wildlife Service (DBCA) to create the reserves, which span more than 114,000 hectares.

The five Badimia conservation reserves comprise parts of two former pastoral leases – Lakeside and Burnerbinmah – that were previously purchased by the State Government for conservation, and unallocated Crown land at Kirkalocka and White Wells.

Proposed Aboriginal names for the reserves are also being considered in collaboration with the Badimia traditional owners.

The area contains multiple Aboriginal sites and significant cultural and pastoral heritage. The landscape provides habitat for 563 flora species and 162 fauna species, including many threatened and priority species, and is home to significant wetlands. The majority of Badimia Country is already a major drawcard for tourists during the spring wildflower season.

Congratulations to all on this achievement, which is another step forward to enable Traditional Owners to care for Country.

Applications for assistance to attend WACOSS’s Finding Ground: Building a better way back together conference now open

Posted: January 29th, 2021

On 22-24 February 2021, WACOSS will be hosting their Finding Ground: Building a better way back together conference in Fremantle, WA, and applications for those requesting financial assistance to attend are now open.

The focus of the conference will be to reflect on both challenges and achievements resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and the community sector’s response to it, and how the lessons learned throughout the response can be adapted to inform future service design and social policy.

For those interested in attending the conference, Lotterywest is providing subsidies to assist with travel, etc. for:

Regional Support ($800)

In recognition of the higher travel and accommodation costs experienced by people from regional WA to attend events in Perth, WACOSS are administering a Regional Support Subsidy to support the participation from regional Western Australians at the conference. This subsidy is only available if you register for the Full Conference Registration (both of the conference days) and the Networking Day, and you will not be reimbursed if you do not attend the conference, or register for a single day registration. To be eligible for reimbursement you will need to keep all receipts.

Perth Metro Small Community Sector organisation staff and volunteers ($300)

This subsidy is available for small community sector organisations that are unfunded and or staffed solely by volunteers. This subsidy is only available if you register for the Full Conference Registration (both of the conference days) and the Networking Day, and you will not be reimbursed if you do not attend the conference or register for a single day registration. Applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis taking into account funding available and the number of applicants.

Lived Experience/Disability Support / Low Income / Community Sector Volunteers ($300)

WACOSS have established a bursary to support people who are out of regular paid work and/or receiving income support, to attend the conference. This subsidy, once approved, will be applied upfront. The approved applicant will only need to pay a $15 registration fee. Applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into account funding available and the number and needs of applicants.

For more information, please visit the conference website (https://www.wacossconference.org.au/) or call Alenka Jeram from WACOSS on 08 6381 5300.

Otherwise, to apply for a subsidy, send an email to WACOSS via info@wacoss.org.au  outlining in a short paragraph which subsidy you are applying for and why you are eligible.

Note: Applications for all subsidies close at 4pm, Thursday, 4 February 2021.

Legislations’ shortcomings noted in the Juukan Gorge Inquiry.

Posted: December 11th, 2020

Industry, and State and Federal legislation have been held accountable by the Joint Standing Committee on Northern Australia Inquiry into the destruction of 46,000 Year Old Caves at the Juukan Gorge in the Pilbara.

The Committee tabled an interim report, titled Never Again from its Inquiry to Parliament on December 9 2020. They noted that more time was needed to produce a full report to cover such complex issues.

The findings make it clear that several laws must change to address the power imbalance inherent in State and Federal legislation.

The report makes seven recommendations focussing on improving relations between industry and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People and improving the legislative framework protecting Indigenous heritage.

A copy of the media statement YMAC has prepared in response to this report in available here.

YMAC will continue to advocate for legislative reform, for a fairer and more balanced environment for Traditional Owners to undertake agreement-making and for central involvement in decisions about what happens on their Country.

YMAC Annual Report 2020

Posted: December 7th, 2020

YMAC’s Annual Report 2020 is available to download from this website.  Copies of the publication are being posted to members and additional copies are available also at YMAC offices.

Recognising World Ranger Day

Posted: July 31st, 2020

Australia has so many beautiful, natural assets and attractions. Within those is some of the oldest culture and heritage in the world. So who better to care for it than Aboriginal rangers?

We are really happy to have Stanley Dwayne Hill from Burringurrah Rangers, on Wajarri Country sharing with us why caring for Country and being a ranger is so special for him.

This is work that YMAC really values being part of.

Here’s to the rangers around the world – with 31 July being World Ranger Day – dedicated to the service they provide so that we may enjoy nature, culture and heritage.

You can watch Stanley’s message here:

Truth telling project scoops 2020 WA Heritage Awards

Posted: July 6th, 2020

“Don’t look at the islands”, Lock Hospitals memorial at Carnarvon. Photo Credit – Melissa Sweet

Congratulations to the volunteer team behind the Lock Hospital Project for their outstanding achievements at the 2020 WA Heritage Awards.

Overall the project was recognised for four coveted awards: Bob Dorey and Kathleen Musulin – who is a former YMAC Board of Director- have been named winners of the ‘Voluntary Individual Contribution’ category; The Lock Hospital Working Group has been named a joint winner in the ‘Community-based organisation’ and the ‘Interpretation Project’ categories; as well as the recipient of the prestigious Judges Award: The Professor David Dolan Award.  

The project played a key part in lobbying the WA Government to formally acknowledge the shocking history of WA’s Lock Hospitals off the coast of Carnarvon. Between 1908 and 1919, hundreds of Aboriginal patients were incarcerated in the Lock Hospitals on Bernier and Dorre islands, with more than 150 people dying there. 

Chair of the Heritage Council of WA, Hon John Cowdell AM commended the team for bringing an important piece of Australian history to the awareness of more people.

“Your commitment to the recognition of the once hidden stories of the Bernier and Dorre islands Lock Hospitals has brought the community and descendants together to share painful stories and acknowledge past truths. I commend you for your ongoing dedication to the project and those impacted by the horrific chapter in Western Australia’s history.”

Special online film viewing – CONNECTION TO COUNTRY: The Pilbara

Posted: May 22nd, 2020

You are invited to a special online film event run by FILEF, which highlights the importance of Connection to Country in the Pilbara region.

CONNECTION TO COUNTRY: The Pilbara is about the fight of the Pilbara region Aboriginal people to protect their sacred sites.

The Burrup Peninsula (or Murujuga), in the Pilbara region, holds the largest concentration of rock art in the world, dating back over 50,000 years. It is an ancient landscape, so sacred that some parts shouldn’t be looked upon by anyone, except Traditional Owners.

In the film, Director Tyson Mowarin shows how he and the people of the Pilbara are fighting back to protect this sacred site. Traditional Owners are documenting the rock art, recording sacred sites and battling to get their unique cultural heritage recognised, recorded and celebrated.

The film will be accessible online, from 7pm on Thursday the 28th until 7pm on Saturday 30^th of May 2020.

Please follow these directions to login:

1. Click on the link below

https://www.artfilms-digital.com/item/connection-to-country

2. Click on login, top right hand corner
3. Enter as a Guest Account:  FILEF
4. Password: artfilms

Relaxing of COVID-19 Restrictions

Posted: May 14th, 2020

On Sunday, 10 May 2020 Premier Mark McGowan announced the State Government’s four phase roadmap to ease COVID-19 restrictions in WA. Phase 2 comes into effect on 18 May.

It is very important for people to familiarise themselves with the details of what the changes mean. Up to date details and FAQs can be found here

Phase 2 includes the following, with a limit of people lifted to 20 people where social distancing of 1.5 metres or 4 square metres per person can still be maintained:

• indoor and outdoor non-work gatherings will be lifted from 10 people to 20 people;
• people are encouraged to return to work, unless they are unwell or vulnerable;
• cafés and restaurants can reopen with meal service (including within pubs, bars, clubs, hotels and casino);
• weddings and funerals, up to 20 attendees (30 for outdoor);
• places of worship, community facilities and libraries to re-open;
• community sports (non-contact);
• outdoor or indoor fitness classes (minimal shared equipment);
• public swimming pools can open under strict rules (one indoor pool and one outdoor pool).

WA regional travel restrictions will also change, the number of current borders within Western Australia will drop from 13 to only four.  This will NOT include the Commonwealth Biosecurity zone and remote communities.

The new regional boundaries will allow:

• travel between the South-West, Great Southern, Wheatbelt, Perth and Peel regions;
• travel between the Mid-West, Gascoyne and Pilbara regions (excluding Biosecurity zone);
• travel within the Goldfields-Esperance region (excluding the Biosecurity zone);
• travel permitted between the Kimberley local government areas (the Commonwealth’s Biosecurity zone remains in place).

Western Australia’s hard border with the rest of Australia will remain in place.  It is expected to be the final restriction lifted.

Phase 1 is already in place following the cautious relaxing of some restrictions from April 27, 2020, to allow families and friends to stay connected.  Phase 3 will be finalised in the coming weeks, based on the advice from the Chief Health Officer and taking into account the infection rates across WA.

More information on WA’s Roadmap is available here