6.5 Case Studies
NPY Women’s Council: Building your cultural guiding principles into your rulebook
The NPY Women’s Council became incorporated under new legislation in 2008. The council undertook a significant period of consultation with its members—spread across a large geographic region—in the lead-up to lodging its new rulebook (formally known as the constitution) with the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC).
As a result of those consultations, members introduced new clauses into the rulebook including key guiding cultural principles such as:
- Ngapartji ngapartji kulinma muna iwara wananma tjukarurungka: respect each other and following the law straight
- Kalypangku: conciliatory
- Piluntungku: peaceful and calm
- Kututu mukulyangku: kindhearted
- Tjungungku: united
- Kunpungku: strong
Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service
Making and carrying out policy
Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service was established to provide culturally appropriate and holistic health care services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the ACT.
Power is shared between the Winnunga Board which makes policy, and management which implements policy. The Board is assisted in making policy decisions by briefings at Board meetings from relevant individuals/consultancies/organisations and Winnunga committees, about various matters such as financial and legal issues and succession planning. The Board members have undertaken extensive education and training in how to fulfil their roles as Directors. This has resulted in clear lines being developed between strategic decision making and operational decision making.