Spotlight on

Townsville health service grows bigger and better

Spotlight on, December 2014

Townsville Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Health Services (ICN 7681)

Entertaining the crowd at the official opening. From left to right: Aiden Ross-Edwards (front), Jamahl Ross (back), Uncle Elemo Tapim and Donald Whaleboat (on drums)

It’s happening at Hodgson Downs

Spotlight on, November 2014

Alawa Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 3358)

Hodgson Downs Community/Minyerri, Northern Territory: If you drive about 270 kilometres south-east of Katherine towards the Hodgson River you’ll arrive at the remote community of Hodgson Downs, also known as Minyerrri.

It may be remote but there’s an energy and activity about this place.

Serving the community

Spotlight on, October 2014

Yulu-Burri-Ba Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health (ICN 2034)

Yulu-Burri-Ba Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health (Yulu-Burri-Ba) provides primary health care and associated health services to the Aboriginal people of North Stradbroke Island and Capalaba in south-eastern Queensland [see map].

Keeping language alive

Spotlight on, September 2014

Bundiyarra Aboriginal Community Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 1422)

Geraldton, Western Australia: One of the central elements of culture is language. Aboriginal people know this more than most which is why every effort is made, sometimes against great odds, to nurture ‘language’ and to keep it strong.

Joining the dots

For Sam Raciti, CEO of Mudth-Niyleta Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation and the board of directors it’s all about joining the dots—keeping the pathways open. It’s about going that extra mile, going further than just a job description. It is about how they can make the necessary partnership arrangements happen.

Returning to the homelands

Spotlight on Paupiyala Tjarutja Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 828)

The story of Paupiyala Tjarutja Aboriginal Corporation (PTAC) and its members is one of remarkable survival. Located in Tjuntjuntjara, it is arguably one of Australia’s remotest Aboriginal communities.

Preserving history and culture

Spotlight on, June 2014

Holding the recently completed WNAC possum skin cloak. Left to right: Lea-Anne Ball, CEO at Mindaribba Local Aboriginal Land Council; Laurie Perry, CEO at WNAC; Duncan Gay, State Minister for Roads and Freight; Tracey Skene, WNAC director; Georgina Berry, WNAC member and Sharon Edgar Jones, WNAC director. Photo: WNAC

Handing back the land

Bidan Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 687)

West Kimberley, Western Australia: There is a feeling of quiet celebration among the Nyikina and Mangala people. The Aboriginal Lands Trust has returned about 73 hectares of historically important land to the Bidan community.

‘We are halfway between Derby and Broome, not far from the Mardoowarra (Fitzroy River),’ said traditional owner Terry Marshall.  It’s always been our land so we are very happy and relieved to have it formally given back to us.’

Confronting childhood

Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 4223)
Coota Girls Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 7993)

The forcible removal of Aboriginal children from their families is one of the bleakest and saddest parts of our recent history, and it has had profound consequences through the generations.

Driving community initiatives


Photo: A recent family night at DRC during a visit from music legend Archie Roach

Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 2458)

Jabiru, Northern Territory: Mirarr are the traditional owners of the land north east of Kakadu National Park and western Arnhem Land. The area takes in the Ranger uranium mine, Jabiluka mineral lease and the mining town of Jabiru. It also includes the wetlands of the Jabiluka billabong country and the sandstone escarpment of Mount Brockman with its ancient rock paintings.