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  • 01 Understanding governance
    • 1.0 Understanding governance
    • 1.1 The important parts of governance
    • 1.2 Indigenous governance
    • 1.3 Governance in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations
    • 1.4 Case studies
  • 02 Culture and governance
    • 2.0 Culture and governance
    • 2.1 Indigenous governance and culture
    • 2.2 Two-way governance
    • 2.3 Case studies
  • 03 Getting started
    • 3.0 Getting started on building your governance
    • 3.1 Assessing your governance
    • 3.2 Mapping your community for governance
    • 3.3 Case studies
  • 04 Leadership
    • 4.0 Leadership for governance
    • 4.1 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership
    • 4.2 The challenges of leadership
    • 4.3 Evaluating your leadership
    • 4.4 Youth leadership and succession planning
    • 4.5 Building leadership capacity to govern
    • 4.6 Case studies
  • 05 Governing the organisation
    • 5.0 Governing the organisation
    • 5.1 Roles, responsibilities and rights of a governing body
    • 5.2 Accountability: what is it, to whom and how?
    • 5.3 Decision making by the governing body
    • 5.4 Governing finances and resources
    • 5.5 Communicating
    • 5.6 Future planning
    • 5.7 Building capacity and confidence for governing bodies
    • 5.8 Case studies
  • 06 Rules and policies
    • 6.0 Governance rules and policies
    • 6.1 What are governance rules?
    • 6.2 Governance rules and culture
    • 6.3 Running effective meetings
    • 6.4 Policies for organisations
    • 6.5 Case studies
  • 07 Management and staff
    • 7.0 Management and staff
    • 7.1 Managing the organisation
    • 7.2 The governing body and management
    • 7.3 Managing staff
    • 7.4 Staff development and training
    • 7.5 Case studies
  • 08 Disputes and complaints
    • 8.0 Dealing with disputes and complaints
    • 8.1 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous approaches
    • 8.2 Core principles and skills for dispute and complaint resolution
    • 8.3 Disputes and complaints about governance
    • 8.4 Your members: dealing with disputes and complaints
    • 8.5 Organisations: dealing with internal disputes and complaints
    • 8.6 Practical guidelines and approaches
    • 8.7 Case studies
  • 09 Nation building and development
    • 9.0 Governance for nation rebuilding and development
    • 9.1 What is nation rebuilding?
    • 9.2 Governance for nation rebuilding
    • 9.3 Governance for sustained development
    • 9.4 Networked governance
    • 9.5 Kick-starting the process of nation rebuilding
    • 9.6 Case studies
  • Glossary
  • Useful links
  • Acknowledgements

Useful Links

Indigenous Governance

Australian

Australian Indigenous Governance Institute

Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre

Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies

Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research (CAEPR) – Australian National University

Institute for Aboriginal Development 

Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning – University of Technology Sydney

National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples

Ninti One: Information, Innovation, Ideas for Remote Australia

Torres Strait Regional Authority

International

British Columbia Assembly of First Nations, Governance Toolkit – Canada

British Columbia Treaty Commission, HR Toolkit – Canada

Metis Nation Gateway – Canada

National Centre for First Nations Governance – Canada

Te Puni Kokiri – Effective Governance – New Zealand

The Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development – USA

University of Arizona Indigenous Governance Database – USA

Governance

Community Builders NSW – Australia

Democratic Governance – The United Nations Development Programme

Effective Community Governance – USA

Institute on Governance – Canada

Nonprofit Good Practice Guide – USA

Our Community – Australia

The Community Tool Box – USA

Federal Government

Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission

Australian Securities Investments Commission

Australian Taxation Office

Closing the Gap Clearinghouse

Department of Education and Training

Department of Employment

Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet: Indigenous Affairs

Department of Social Services

Indigenous Land Corporation

Indigenous Portal, Australian Government

Office of the Coordinator General for Remote Indigenous Services

Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations

Productivity Commission

State Government

ACT

Department of Justice and Community Safety

Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs

New South Wales

Aboriginal Affairs NSW

Community Builders

Office of Fair Trading

Northern Territory

Consumer Business Affairs

Department of Local Government and Community Services: Office of Aboriginal Affairs

Queensland

Office of Fair Trading

Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships

South Australia

Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation

Office of Consumer and Business Services

Tasmania

Department of Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading

Office of Aboriginal Affairs

Victoria

Consumer Affairs

Office of Aboriginal Affairs Victoria

Western Australia

Consumer Protection

Department of Aboriginal Affairs

Local Government

Australian Local Government Association

Peak Bodies

Australian Indigenous Chamber of Commerce

Indigenous Business Australia

National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation

National Native Title Tribunal

Indigenous Governance Awards

2018 Winners

Category A: Outstanding examples of Indigenous governance in an Indigenous incorporated organisations

Joint Winners

Institute for Urban Indigenous Health

Nyamba Buru Yawuru

Category B: Outstanding examples of Indigenous governance in a non-incorporated initiative or project

Winner

Warlpiri Education and Training Trust (WETT)

Highly Commended

Alekarenge Community Development Working Group

2016 Winners

Category A: Outstanding examples of Indigenous governance in an Indigenous incorporated organisations

Winner

Western Desert Nganampa Walytja Palyantjaku Tjutaku Aboriginal Corporation 

Category B: Outstanding examples of Indigenous governance in a non-incorporated initiative or project

Winner

Murdi Paaki Regional Assembly

2014 Winners

Category A: Outstanding examples of Indigenous governance in an Indigenous incorporated organisations

Winner

Waltja Tjutangku Palyapayi Aboriginal Corporation

Highly Commended

Girringun Aboriginal Corporation

Finalists

Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience (AIME)

Institute for Urban Indigenous Health

Ngnowar Aerwah Aboriginal Corporation

Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency

Category B: Outstanding examples of Indigenous governance in a non-incorporated initiative or project

Winner

The Marruk Project

Highly Commended

Muntjiltjarra Wurrgumu Group

2012 Winners

Category A: Outstanding examples of Indigenous governance in an Indigenous incorporated organisations

Winner

Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) Women’s Council

Highly Commended

Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care

Finalists

Warlpiri Youth Development Aboriginal Corporation (WYDAC)

Western Desert Nganampa Walytja Palyantjaku Tjutaku Aboriginal Corporation (WDNWPT)

Yawoorroong Miriuwung Gajerrong Yirrgeb Noong Dawang Aboriginal Corporation (MG Corporation)

Category B: Outstanding examples of Indigenous governance in a non-incorporated initiative or project

Winner

Yiriman Project

Highly Commended

Murdi Paaki Regional Assembly

Finalists

Martumili Artists

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Case Studies

NPY Women’s Council – strong culture, strong women, strong communities

  NPY Women’s Council (NPYWC) was set up in 1980 and incorporated in 1994.  The organisation was founded in response to the concerns of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women throughout the APY lands.   The women were concerned about the …

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Murdi Paaki Regional Assembly

Self-determination and community control The Murdi Paaki Regional Assembly (MPRA) is comprised of the Chairs or representatives of 16 Aboriginal Community Working Parties (CWP’s) across the Murdi Paaki Region of NSW. MPRA see self-determination as the key success to their …

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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 …

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News

ORIC Top 500 Report 2014-15

The Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC) released the 2014-2015 top 500 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations report in December 2015. This is ORIC’s seventh report on the top 500 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations. It collates and …

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Social Justice Commissioner launches 2014 Social Justice and Native Title Report

Mr Mick Gooda is the current Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner. The Commissioner has a unique role at the Australian Human Rights Commission, responsible for advocating for the recognition of the rights of Indigenous Australians. As part …

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Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage: Key Indicators 2014 Report

The Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage report: Key Indicators 2014 (OID Report) was released by the Productivity Commission in November 2014. The OID Report measures the wellbeing of Australia’s Indigenous peoples. The report provides information about outcomes across a range of strategic …

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The Australian Indigenous Governance Institute

The Australian Indigenous Governance Institute is a unique Indigenous led national centre of governance knowledge and excellence. We know that practically effective and culturally legitimate governance is the staple building block for delivering real change.

We assist Indigenous Australians in their diverse efforts to determine and strengthen their own sustainable systems of self-governance by identifying world-class governance practice, informing effective policy, providing accessible research, disseminating stories that celebrate outstanding success and solutions, and delivering professional education and training opportunities.

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