Now, the corporation is giving a large block of pastoral land a new life as a space for community connections. It’s a long-term vision for Pairrebeenne/Trawlwoolway man and director, Grant 'Tank' Shaw, who has returned home to Country and formed a positive network of people to make it happen.
What began as a modest resource centre has become a welcoming meeting place, drop-in centre and program provider for local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Chairperson Deanna Schreiber and Treasurer Ann Cribb say it’s staying true to community needs, having good governance and taking pride in their work that’s kept the corporation strong for so long.
Mingaletta Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation has been running activities, programs and services that support health, welfare and education for 20 years. In 2022, it hired its first employee – a volunteer who had been there from the beginning.
The Granites Mine Affected Area Aboriginal Corporation (GMAAAC) was set up by the Central Land Council (CLC) to support 9 mine-affected communities in the Northern Territory. GMAAAC collects compensation for the social impacts of the mine so affected communities can use the money for sustainable, community-driven projects.
Mudyala Aboriginal Corporation is deeply invested in getting positive outcomes for people in the northern NSW Clarence Valley region. All members of the team often put in hours outside of normal time, including volunteer hours, to support young people aged 0 to 25 and their families to connect with culture and education.
With a name meaning ‘be well’ in Bundjalung language, Bugalwan Indigenous Corporation calls on culture and traditions to innovate and improve mental health care for First Nations people. While still in its early stages, the corporation’s board is responding to challenges by pivoting when needed, learning from experience, and looking after its people as it grows.
In two decades, DJAARA, the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation (DDWCAC) has grown from a small corporation into a multi-million-dollar organisation with multiple enterprises. Good governance has been essential to this growth. Today, the Dja Dja Wurrung Group – DJAARA and its expanding Dja Dja Wurrung Enterprises – delivers employment and economic benefits to Dja Dja Wurrung People in Victoria while meeting DJAARA’s goals to care for Country.
Each Monday, Voice of Hope Aboriginal Corporation welcomes up to 40 First Nations women to a healing workshop. It’s a chance to yarn, heal and create connections, with the goal of returning to community strong after prison.
Voice of Hope embodies an ambition by founder Lorraine Pryor: to provide a wrap-around service for incarcerated women and sistergirls to have ‘hope for when they are released’. It’s a response to Lorraine seeing a need for Aboriginal women-led services in the justice system – services grounded in culture and women’s business.
In 2013, Elders in Canberra came together over a shared concern about the services provided to First Nations people leaving prison. The community wanted returning members to have stronger, more culturally responsive support. They wanted people to feel safe so they could learn, work, form connections and, as a result, not reoffend.
So they took the lead on making it happen.
Family and community are always welcome at Yarkuwa Indigenous Knowledge Centre. It’s an open space where visitors drop in to view exhibitions and talk to staff. Staff and community members bring children to play and be involved.
It’s a place for sharing knowledge, connecting between generations and forming partnerships with people who aim for better outcomes in Deniliquin, NSW.
