Aboriginal college in the Northern Territory handed back

Yesterday the members of Nyangatjatjara Aboriginal Corporation (NAC) located at Yulara, Northern Territory regained control of their corporation.

Nyangatjatjara Aboriginal Corporation runs Nyangatjatjara College which provides secondary education and boarding facilities to children from surrounding Indigenous communities.

The Registrar of Indigenous Corporations appointed a special administrator to the corporation in April 2006 to rectify ongoing compliance, governance and financial issues that were discovered during an examination.

The special administrator, Mr Eamonn Thackaberry, held an annual general meeting at the college on 27 August where members voted on a new rule book that complies with the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006. They also elected new directors to take over at the end of the administration.

The Registrar of Indigenous Corporations, Anthony Beven, attended the meeting and said the special administrator had made significant positive changes. These have included arranging for high quality education to be provided in the college, community consultation regarding future funding and a governance restructure to integrate leaders with particular areas of expertise.

‘I am confident the improvements to the corporation’s governance structure will support good corporate governance processes and protect members.

‘Generally, placing a special administrator in a corporation offers an alternative to winding up. It is always a good result when a struggling corporation is turned around.

‘I would like to thank Mr Thackaberry for his work with the corporation and my office.’ Mr Beven said.

Further information

The new directors of NAC are:

  • Ms Janey Miama and Mr Murray Butler representing Kaltukatjara (Docker River)
  • Mr Bob Randall and Mr Mario Guiseppe representing Mutitjulu
  • Mr Phillip Coombes and Ms Sandra Armstrong representing Imanpa.

Contact:
Lisa Donnelly
02 6219 7611
1 September 2008
ORIC MR0809–07

Published