The Registrar of Indigenous Corporations, Selwyn Button has today placed the Urapuntja Health Service Aboriginal Corporation under special administration.
Urapuntja Health provides primary health care services for around 1000 Indigenous people living in or visiting the Utopia homelands region. It delivers services through a primary clinic as well as an outreach service to all 16 outstation communities every week.
It is one of Australia's longest running Aboriginal community controlled health services. Incorporated in 1979 as Indigenous corporation number 2, it also holds claim to the oldest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation in the country.
‘I have made the appointment without the usual show cause procedure due to the nature of risks in the case, including potential disruption of essential services to community, as well as safety and wellbeing of staff,’ Mr Button said.
The Registrar has appointed Thomas Cameron and Leah Cameron from Marrawah Law Pty Ltd as the joint special administrators from 28 January to 8 May 2020.
Background
Special administration is a unique power under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 designed to help a corporation address its problems. The aim is to restore a corporation to good health and return it to members’ control as soon as possible. For more information see the fact sheet Special administrations: what members and directors should know at oric.gov.au.
Media contact
Lisa Hugg 0477 762 290 or (02) 6150 6237
ORIC MR1920-10
28 January 2020