YMAC Members’ News

Meet a YMAC Director

Posted: April 28th, 2011

Filed under: Board, Natlaie parker, Nyiyaparli, YMAC Director

Natalie Parker

Natalie is a Nyiyaparli woman from the central Pilbara region who is well known in the community for her leadership capacity.  Natalie represents her community on the board of the Gumula Aboriginal Corporation, Gumula Enterprises Pty Ltd, Meta Maya Aboriginal Corporation as well as being the first female co-chair of Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC).


Natalie’s enjoys camping on country and spending quality time with her grandchildren. Her aspirations for the future include improvements in health, education and economic opportunities for Aboriginal people, and to see recognition of culture and a strong future for all.

YMAC CEO in Saturday’s West Australian

Posted: April 18th, 2011

Filed under: agreement, Simon Hawkins, West Australian

Applications open for Community Liaison Officer

Posted: April 11th, 2011

Filed under: Community Liaison Officer, job vacancy

YMAC is seeking a motivated and enthusiastic individual who has a strong desire to work with Aboriginal communities within the Yamatji region and advancing their interests through the native title process. This position is based in YMAC’s Geraldton Office.

You would be working to ensure claimants are informed and can participate in the management of their native title claims. You would also be acting as a source of information to the community about the organisation, the native title act and other relevant matters.

To be considered for this position, you must address briefly in your letter the following selection criteria:

• Ability to effectively and sensitively communicate and work within a team environment
• Excellent verbal, written, communication skills
• Proficiency with computers
• Good understanding of Aboriginal people, their culture and decision making processes
• Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills
• Current unrestricted manual ‘C’ class license is essential.

For further information about this position, please contact Human Resources on (08) 9268 7000.

Under S.50 (d) of the Equal Opportunity Act, an applicant’s Indigenous background is a genuine occupational qualification.

Job descriptions and an application form are available on our website https://www.ymac.org.au/go/careers, or contact Human Resources on (08) 9268 7000 or email jobs@ymac.org.au.

All applications must include a covering letter, completed application form, resume, and a statement addressing the selection criteria.

Applications can be posted to PO Box 3072, Adelaide Terrace, Perth WA 6000, faxed to (08) 9268 7049 or emailed to jobs@ymac.org.au

Closing date for the above positions is 4.00pm Tuesday 26th April 2011

Check out the new look YMAC News

Posted: March 23rd, 2011

Filed under: Aboriginal Communities Charitable Organisation, Board, International Women's Day, National Heritage List, Sandfire Resources, uranium, Weld Range, YMAC News, Yugunga-Nya

The latest issue of YMAC News is out today, with a new look and expanded format. In issue 13 of YMAC’s newsletter you can catch up on what has been happening at YMAC over the past three months with stories on the agreement between the Yugunga-Nya people and Sandfire Resources, the National Heritage Listing for the Weld Range, YMAC’s uranium community guides, the Premier’s Australia Day Award for the Aboriginal Communities Charitable Organistaion, the three YMAC women who were honoured for International Women’s Day, as well as profiles of some of our board members.

Click the link below for an electronic version or email srosenfeld@ymac.org.au to request hard copies for yourself, your family, your business or workplace.

YMAC News March 2011

Indigenous West Australians recognised at International Women’s Day Event

Posted: March 10th, 2011

Filed under: Board, Donna Murdock, Doris Eaton, International Women's Day, Margaret Rose, NATSIWA, YMAC Director

NATSIWA’s International Women’s Day Poster

Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC) is extremely proud that two of its staff members and one of its Board members have been honoured at an event in Adelaide marking ‘International Women’s Day.’

Mrs. Donna Murdock, Yamatji Regional Manager, Ms. Margaret Rose, Senior Community Liaison Officer and Mrs. Doris Eaton, co-chair of YMAC’s Board of Directors and 2009 NAIDOC elder of the year, have been recognised by the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Alliance (NATSIWA) for achieving change for their people and communities.

To celebrate the one hundredth International Women’s Day, NATSIWA has recognised one hundred Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who have shown leadership and achieved change over the past one hundred years.

In addition to a rally in Adelaide on 10 March 2011, there is  a poster featuring some of the nominated women that will be widely distributed to schools, non-government organisations and government departments. A blog has also been created where the women will contribute to forums on issues facing Indigenous women.

Click here to access NATSIWA’s International Women’s Day website, including their blog.

Mrs. Murdock, Ms. Rose and Mrs. Eaton were all chosen because of their activism, leadership and commitment to their regional communities. They have contributed to their communities in the areas of health, education, business development, native title and traditional culture.

“It’s a great pleasure to be recognised and to be honoured among other women who have been working hard for their communities. It is really rewarding for us Indigenous women to come together from all parts of Australia and have it be recognised that yes, we are making a difference,” said Margaret Rose.

Simon Hawkins, YMAC’s Chief Executive Officer, said of the news, “It’s wonderful to see some of the hard-working, community-minded Aboriginal women of the Midwest and Pilbara regions being celebrated nationally for their achievements. YMAC congratulates Mrs. Eaton, Ms. Rose and Mrs. Murdock on their nominations, and I can say personally that it has been a huge honour to work with them over the years.”

Weld Range added to the National Heritage List

Posted: February 25th, 2011

Filed under: National Heritage List, Wajarri Yamatji, Weld Range, Wilgie Mia

Signpost – road leading to Wilgie Mia/Thuwarri Thaa, Weld Range in distance

The Weld Range is approximately sixty kilometres north-west of Cue, and is of significant cultural importance to the traditional owners of the area, the Wajarri Yamatji people, as well as neighbouring Indigenous groups.

The 45ha area of the National Heritage Listing includes Wilgie Mia, Little Wilgie Mia and the Marlu Resting Place. These sites contain sacred law grounds, dreamtime places, thousands of examples of rock art, extensive archaeological material, and the Wilgie Mia red ochre mine.

Uranium information for Traditional Owners

Posted: February 19th, 2011

Filed under: members, uranium

YMAC has produced a publication called “Uranium and Native Title”, which will be sent to all YMAC members this month.

The Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC) is aware that uranium mining is an issue that many of our members feel strongly about.

YMAC is not for or against uranium mining. Our role is to make sure Traditional Owners are professionally represented, that their native title rights are protected, and that they have the right information for decision making.
Uranium is a controversial issue and we’ve had a lot of questions from our members about what uranium mining might mean for their country and community. There are no uranium mines planned for the Murchison and Gascoyne regions right now, but exploration is occurring.

The “Uranium and Native Title” booklet and DVD gives some basic information about uranium, and lets you know where to go to learn more.

The DVD includes information from YMAC’s visit to the Northern Territory to meet with Traditional Owners who have had uranium mining on their country. It also features footage from YMAC’s Uranium Workshops in 2009 with Traditional Owners in Geraldton, Karratha and Carnarvon, where a Federal Government scientist talked about uranium and types of mining.

Click here to download “Uranium and Native Title” or visit YMAC’s website http://www.ymac.org.au/. You can contact YMAC at (08) 9268 7000 to request a copy complete with DVD.

If you are already a YMAC member you will receive your copy in the mail.

Not a member? Click here to download a membership form. All Yamatji and Marlpa adults are eligible for YMAC membership.

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.

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.”