Resources and publications
Title | Author /s | Summary | Date | Tag(s) | Type |
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Building Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Governance: Report of a Survey and Forum to Map Current and Future Research and Practical Resource Needs | Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies | In Australia today there are an estimated 8000 to 9000 Indigenous organisations, many of which are incorporated under Commonwealth, state or territory legislation. Their governance work is often seen by Indigenous people as nation-building: an expression of self-determination and a way of reconceptualising relations with governments and asserting unique cultural traditions. The effective governance of these organisations is critical to attracting funding, promoting sustainable economic activity and building resilient communities. It is now recognised that Indigenous governance and the governance of governments are intertwined and the latter is receiving greater critical scrutiny. A growing number of research projects, governance building initiatives and practical resources are providing evidence of what works, what doesn’t and why. But the opportunities to evaluate this evidence, consider strategic priorities and build collaborations are limited. On 29–30 July 2014, AIATSIS and AIGI convened an Indigenous governance forum in Canberra to provide such an opportunity. In preparation, a survey of Indigenous governance research, practical resources and future needs was widely circulated. This report provides a synthesis of ideas, comments, issues and possibilities identified through the survey and the forum. |
AIATSIS, Governance, Native Title Act | Report | |
Building Indigenous community governance in Australia: Preliminary research findings | Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research | This is a preliminary research report from the first year of fieldwork conducted by the Indigenous Community Governance Project (ICGP). The Project is exploring the nature of Indigenous community governance in diverse contexts and locations across Australia through a series of diverse case studies—to understand what works, what doesn’t work, and why. A comparative analysis of the Project’s case studies is revealing that governance and decision-making in Indigenous community governance is shaped by multiple historical, cultural and political relationships. Family and governance histories associated with particular communities and sets of regionally-linked communities are central features in community governance dynamics and arrangements. Strengthening Indigenous community governance requires negotiating appropriate contemporary relationships among the different Indigenous people within a region or community, and adapting or creating structures and processes to reflect important relationships. Several dimensions are being identified as being fundamental to building stronger, sustainable governance at the community and regional levels. These are the impact of the wider ‘governance environment’, cultural match and cultural geography, modes of leadership and representation, institutional capacity, organisational design and relationships, representation, decision-making processes, and human resource issues. Capacity development for governance needs to be considered within a systems framework and should be a process that actively strengthens Indigenous decision-making and control over their core institutions, goals and identity, and that enhances cultural match and legitimacy. The report concludes with some emerging issues and implications for policy makers and for Indigenous organisations and their leaders. |
Capacity building, Community development, Decision making, Governance, Leadership, Partnerships | Report | |
CATSI Act review report draft | National Indigenous Australians Agency | This comprehensive review of the CATSI Act, built on a series of reviews undertaken in recent years. Responding to feedback from stakeholders for comprehensive consideration of the ongoing role of the CATSI Act, this review would consider whether the CATSI Act is achieving its objects, particularly as a special measure under the Racial Discrimination Act 1975. |
Capacity building, CATSI Act, PBC Regulations | Report | |
CATSI Act Review: Phase 1 summary report | National Indigenous Australians Agency | This report details the findings from the survey available on the National Indigenous Australians Agency website for phase one of the CATSI Act review. |
Capacity building, CATSI Act, PBC Regulations | Report | |
Closing the Gap report | Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, National Indigenous Australians Agency | This Closing the Gap report is an opportunity to reflect on a decade’s efforts under an ambitious framework aimed at improving outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. |
Capacity building, Commercial development, Community development, Education, Health, Indigenous knowledge | Report | |
Communicating with youth workbook for PBCs | PBCs have to think about succession. This workbook is for PBCs who want to engage with young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in their community and region. It provides information, practical tips and ideas how to communicate and get them involved. |
Communication, PBCs (Prescribed Body / Bodies Corporate), Youth | Workbook | ||
Communication strategy workbook | This workbook leads you through the process of developing a communications strategy step-by-step. |
Capacity building, Communication, Education | Workbook | ||
Connection to Country: Review of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) (ALRC Report 126) | Australian Law Reform Commission | This report marks the first major review of ‘connection’ in native title claims—central to native title determinations—since the introduction of the Native Title Act. The report also examines authorisation of persons bringing native title claims and joinder of parties, and includes 30 recommendations for reform. |
Community development, Indigenous knowledge, Indigenous law, Native Title Act, Resolution | Report | |
Conservation management and native title: opportunities for indigenous ownership | Polly Grace, Terry Piper, Matthew Salmon | While Indigenous people make up just five percent of the global population, the areas they manage contain approximately 80 percent of the Earth’s biodiversity. In this context, there is an undeniably central role for Indigenous people to play in conservation management, but conversely, a significant risk that indigenous rights will be negatively impacted or undermined by conservation agendas. This panel will explore Indigenous experiences with conservation management, highlighting the opportunities and challenges faced by native title holders within this context. |
Caring for Country, Environment, Indigenous knowledge, IPA (Indigenous Protected Areas), Land and sea management, Rangers / caring for country | Presentation | |
Contested Governance: Culture, power and institutions in Indigenous Australia | Janet Hunt, Diane Smith, Stephanie Garling, Will Sanders (eds) | This collection of papers examines the dilemmas and challenges involved in the Indigenous struggle for the development and recognition of systems of governance that they recognise as both legitimate and effective. |
CAEPR, Governance, Indigenous knowledge, Leadership | Book | |
Corporation Reporting Guide | Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations | This guide is designed to help corporation auditors and accountants (or bookkeepers) prepare reports |
Bookkeeping, ORIC, PBCs (Prescribed Body / Bodies Corporate), Policies, Reporting, Rule book | Information Sheet | |
Country, Native Title and Ecology | Jessica Weir (ed) | Country, native title and ecology all converge in this volume to describe the dynamic intercultural context of land and water management on Indigenous lands. Indigenous people’s relationships with country are discussed from various speaking positions, including identity and knowledge, the homelands debate, water planning, climate change and market environmentalism. The inter-disciplinary chapters range from an ethnographic description of living waters in the Great Sandy Desert, negotiating the eradication of yellow crazy ants in Arnhem Land, and legal analysis of native title rights in emerging carbon markets. A recurrent theme is the contentions over meaning, knowledge, and authority. |
Carbon farming, Environment, Indigenous knowledge, Water | Book | |
Creating Archives | AIATSIS | This resource provides guidance and important questions for organisations to consider when establishing an archive of their own. It includes what an archive is, why archives are important, what can go in an archive, and outlines steps which could be taken to set up an archive. Links to other resources and contacts are also contained in the booklet.
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AIATSIS, Community development, Culture, Data sovereignty, Database, Indigenous knowledge, Indigenous law | Information Sheet | |
Culture and Governance | Indigenous Governance Toolkit | The topic 'Culture and Governance' from the Indigenous Governance Toolkit has four sections,
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Governance, Indigenous knowledge, Indigenous law | Information Sheet | |
Data sovereignty policy brief | AbSec NSW Child, Family and Community Peak Aboriginal Corporation | This policy statement provides brief information for Indigenous Data Sovereignty (IDS), which refers to the right of Indigenous peoples to exercise authority over the collection, access, analysis and use of data that pertains to them. |
Data sovereignty, Indigenous knowledge | Policy statement | |
Decision-making: Constitutions of Prescribed Bodies Corporate | Ashleigh Blechynden | The Prescribed Body Corporate (PBC) research snapshot series has been developed to share findings from the Native Title Research Unit’s (NTRU) investigation into the constitutions and financial reports of PBCs. This research forms part of the PBC Capability project which aims to develop a long-term national picture of the PBC sector. This snapshot examines the decision-making processes identified by PBCs within their constitutions including voting processes, quorum requirements and the use of independent directors. |
CATSI Act, Constitutions, Decision making, Native Title Act, PBCs (Prescribed Body / Bodies Corporate), Rule book | Report | |
Detailed information on changes to native title laws and obligations | CATSI Act, ILUA (Indigenous Land Use Agreement), Members, Native Title Act, Native title holder, PBC Regulations, PBCs (Prescribed Body / Bodies Corporate), Reporting, Rule book, Special administration | Fact sheet | |||
Dispute management: Constitutions of Prescribed Bodies Corporate | Ashleigh Blechynden | The Prescribed Body Corporate (PBC) research snapshot series has been developed to share findings from the Native Title Research Unit’s (NTRU) investigation into the constitutions and financial reports of PBCs. This research forms part of the PBC Capability project which aims to develop a long-term national picture of the PBC sector. This snapshot looks at the dispute management processes within PBC constitutions, examining the use of NTRBs, independent mediation and elder’s councils to resolve disputes. |
AIATSIS, CATSI Act, Dispute management, Native Title Act, PBCs (Prescribed Body / Bodies Corporate) | Report | |
Distribution of wealth and growth of PBCs by size | Dr Belinda Burbidge | The Prescribed Body Corporate (PBC) Native Title Policy Paper series has been developed to share findings from AIATSIS’ native title research projects and the impact of those findings on current policy conversations. This policy paper examines the distribution of wealth and growth of PBCs by size between the years 2010-11 and 2015-16 calculated in terms of net totals and growth rates in the areas of income, assets, equity and staff. |
PBCs (Prescribed Body / Bodies Corporate) | Report | |
Emerging Issues in Land and Sea Management | Dermot Smyth, Rod Kennett, Tran Tran, Acacia Prince-Pike, Melanie Dulfer-Hyams | Report of a workshop held on Wednesday 4th June 2014 at the National Native Title Conference, Coffs Harbour, NSW, to map current and future research and resource needs for land and sea management. |
AIATSIS, Fishing, Land and sea management, NNTC (National Native Title Council), Water | Report |