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Perth, Western Australia: Conceived, created and performed by members of Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company with respect for the community, elders and ancestors, the play Hecate powerfully meets the corporation’s objective as a cultural caretaker—ultimately, to ‘improve the cultural health of all involved and find space for an Aboriginal voice to be heard’. As if that wasn’t reason enough to celebrate, there are also layers of insights in this story for aspiring leaders of all corporations.

Sydney, New South Wales: Between 1912 and 1968 generations of young Aboriginal girls were taken from their families and forced to spend their childhood in Cootamundra Girls Domestic Training Home for Aboriginal Girls. Fifty years after the training home closed, some of the surviving detainees run Coota Girls Aboriginal Corporation, to maintain connection with each other and provide support. The corporation helps to meet their practical needs and looks after their social, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.

Derby, WA: For thousands of years Indigenous Australians in the Kimberley have been catching and eating giant freshwater prawns they call jarramba. Emama Nguda Aboriginal Corporation (ENAC) will be the first group to commercially farm them.

Roebourne, Western Australia: Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC purchased Roebourne's Victoria Hotel in 2013 and set about transforming it into a dynamic hub for community and collaboration. The hotel had closed in 2005 due in large part to its role in facilitating alcohol abuse in the town. So its redevelopment heralds a new era for Roebourne.

Above: Dhimurru rangers Wanga, Eddie, Grace, Hamish, Gatha, Rrawun, Yama and Guru

Nhulunbuy, north-east Arnhem Land, Northern Territory: At the beginning of every board meeting, directors of Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation read its 400-word vision statement aloud. The ritual honours the corporation’s founder, Roy Marika, progenitor of the land rights movement in Australia, and maintains a very clear focus for the corporation.

Gordon Bennett (1955–2014)
Eddie Mabo (after Mike Kelley’s “Booth’s Puddle” 1985; from Plato’s Cave, Rothko’s Chapel, Lincoln’s Profile) No 3 (1996)
Collection: National Portrait Gallery, Canberra. Purchased with funds provided by L Gordon Darling AC CMG 1999
© The Estate of Gordon Bennett

Dubbo, New South Wales: HIHAT Aboriginal Corporation is a new corporation that is already achieving its aim of getting Aboriginal people into training and jobs. Janelle Whitehead is the sole member and director of the corporation, which she registered in October 2018.

Job seekers after completing their Certificate II in Construction in Mount Druitt

Janelle with Corey Robinson, the CEO of Goanna Services collaborating to get job seekers ready to undertake government contracts

Byron Bay, New South Wales: Bundjalung of Byron Bay Aboriginal Corporation (Arakwal), also known as BoBBAC, has a big vision, for a united and cooperative approach to achieving its objectives:

This story comes via the North Queensland Land Council Native Title Representative Body Aboriginal Corporation and is reproduced with permission.

Cairns, Queensland: Congratulations to the deadly Yirrganydji mob for Dawul Wuru Aboriginal Corporation's recent win. The corporation was named winner of ANZSOG Indigenous Strength and Leadership Video Competition (along with New Zealand's Ngāpuhi Iwi Social Services). The competition recognised initiatives promoting Indigenous leadership in public administration.