Resources and publications

Displaying 1 to 20 of 25 results.
Title Author /s Summary Date Tag(s) Type
Aboriginal assets? the impact of major agreements associated with native title in Western Australia Sarah Prout Quicke, Alfred Michael Dockery, Aileen Hoath

This report, conducted for the Department of Regional Development, addresses the question of how effective agreements arising from native title determinations are at meeting the needs and aspirations of Aboriginal peoples who have achieved, or are pursuing (through registered native title claims), legal recognition as native title holders. The report research is based on a review of relevant academic and ‘grey’ literature as well as case studies of the experiences of three Western Australian Aboriginal native title groups in their efforts to leverage agreements with government and industry to enhance their wellbeing and pursue their aspirations.

Agreements, ILUA (Indigenous Land Use Agreement), Mining, Native Title Act, PBCs (Prescribed Body / Bodies Corporate), Trusts Report
Caring for country and sustainable Indigenous development: Opportunities, constraints and innovation John Altman, Peter Whitehead

This paper explores how Indigenous community-based natural resource management can generate both conservation benefit and economic development opportunity. We begin by noting that much of the Indigenous estate in north Australia is either thinly populated or unpopulated. There is emerging evidence that, in situations where Indigenous people live on their country, ecological and wider benefits are generated via favourable fire regimes, control over weed infestations, and potentially through feral animal harvesting. When people are on country, they generate economic benefit for themselves by harvesting wildlife for consumption and engage with the market sector by using natural resources in commercial enterprise like arts and crafts production. We argue that there is a strong correlation between such activities and cost-effective natural resource management. Links between landcare, wildlife use and biodiversity conservation need to be recognized, celebrated and supported. The removal of many barriers to enhanced and innovative Indigenous participation in such activities, and equitable public support through programs like Landcare, will facilitate sustainable economic development options that are compatible with Indigenous priorities, while ameliorating Indigenous disadvantage.

CAEPR, Caring for Country, Commercial development, Community development, Environment, Fire, Land and sea management Article / paper
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
Ethics workshop Chrissy Grant

An Ethics Workshop will be held for PBCs and Traditional Owners to be aware of best practice ethical research standards that should be used by researchers when working with Traditional Owners.

The workshop will introduce you to the themes and principles outlined in AIATSIS’s Guidelines for Ethical Research in Australian Indigenous Studies (GERAIS). Examples and case studies will help you understand how and why the GERAIS principles should be the minimum standards applied to any research on your land and sea country.

There is a concern that the PBCs and Traditional Owners are not as familiar with ethical standards as the researchers are and how they should be applied to any research. This seems to be a one-sided conversation. GERAIS will educate and inform PBCs and TOs about ethical standards in research taking place across Indigenous estates – IPAs, Ranger work including compliance and enforcement issues, Indigenous engagement in Government processes and other research as well as Native Title and PBC research. It is so critically important that PBCs and TOs know what to expect from both the researcher and the participants so that they are well informed before they enter into a research agreement.

Agreements, Ethics, NNTC (National Native Title Council) Presentation
Guidelines for best practice flexible and sustainable agreement making AIATSIS Research

This Best Practice Guide is designed to provide practical guidance for government parties on the behaviours, attitudes and practices that can achieve flexible, broad and efficient resolutions of native title. It identifies a range of common factors indicative of successful broader land settlements that may be applied or adapted to the circumstances of particular settlements.

Agreements, AIATSIS Guide
Indigenous Community Governance Project: Year Two Research Findings J. Hunt and D.E Smith

This is the second research report by the Indigenous Community Governance Project (ICGP). The ICGP is exploring the nature of Indigenous community governance in Australia - to understand what works, what doesn’t work, and why. The first report, based on 2005 fieldwork, was published as CAEPR Working Paper No. 31/2006.

This report brings together findings from the fieldwork conducted during 2006, based on evidence drawn from case studies of Indigenous governance in action within differing community, geographical, cultural and political settings across the nation.

CAEPR, Governance Report
Indigenous land use agreements (ILUAs) for PBCs Aurora

This factsheet details the roles and requirements of PBCs entering into Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUAs). This factsheet provides an overview of the various types of ILUAs as well as some of the legal requirements and processes needed for the future act(s). Please note some of this information may be outdated. 

Agreements, Future acts, ILUA (Indigenous Land Use Agreement), PBCs (Prescribed Body / Bodies Corporate) Information Sheet
Karajarri: A West Kimberley Experience in Managing Native Title Jessica Weir

In 2002 and 2004 Karajarri had their native title rights and interests recognised to over 31,000 square kilometres of land in the West Kimberley, south of Broome. This is an area about half the size of Tasmania. Here there are pastoral stations, mining interests, coastal and desert lands, and the large Aboriginal community of Bidyadanga. Karajarri had one of the first native title determinations to be recognised in the Kimberley and had the first native title application in which applicants were represented exclusively by the Kimberley Land Council.

Agreements, AIATSIS, Governance, Land and sea management Article / paper
Let’s talk about success: exploring factors behind positive change in Aboriginal communities Janet Hunt

This paper draws on interviews with leaders of successful Aboriginal organisations to understand the factors behind the successes that they are achieving in their communities.

CAEPR, Community development, Making it work Article / paper
Living with native title: the experiences of registered native title corporations Toni Bauman, Lisa M Strelein, Jessica K Weir

Much of the attention paid to native title in Australia has focused on court proceedings and other legalities, but what does it actually mean to live with native title? This book presents the experiences of native title holders and the corporations they have established to look after their native title interests.

The influence of the renowned High Court Mabo case is such that there are already more than 100 Registered Native Title Bodies Corporate (RNTBCs) across Australia with responsibilities for about 18 per cent of the continent. RNTBCs operate in a profoundly intercultural context where ‘western’ and Indigenous laws are constantly interpreted and negotiated as part of a new suite of landholding and land management practices for contemporary Australia.

Through seven case studies from the Torres Strait, Far North Queensland, the Kimberley and Central Australia, Living with native title documents the experiences of RNTBCs, including those that are parties to large mining agreements. Each case study is accompanied by a short update written immediately prior to publication.

Living with native title is a product of the AIATSIS research project Prescribed Bodies Corporate: Research Action Partnerships.

Agreements, AIATSIS, Future acts, ILUA (Indigenous Land Use Agreement), Indigenous knowledge, Indigenous law, Joint Management, Native Title Act, NTRB (Native Title Representative Body), Partnerships Book
Native Title Information Handbooks - PBC Funding and Training Guide

The Native Title Information Handbooks provide a summary of resources and information relating to key areas of native title.

The Handbooks provide information about:

  • Native title legislation and case law
  • Federal, state and territory governments' native title policies and procedures
  • Native title representative bodies, registered native title bodies corporate, government agencies and other organisations involved in native title
  • Native title applications and determinations
  • Indigenous land use agreements, future acts and other native title related agreements
  • Land rights legislation
  • Indigenous Land Corporation acquisitions, Indigenous land management and Indigenous protected areas
  • Indigenous population profiles.
Agreements, Determinations, Future acts, IPA (Indigenous Protected Areas), Land and sea management, Land and water, NNTC (National Native Title Council), NTRB (Native Title Representative Body), NTSP (Native Title Service Provider), PBC Regulations, PBCs (Prescribed Body / Bodies Corporate) Information Sheet
Native Title Report 2001 Australian Human Rights Commission

Under the Native Title Act 1993, the Social Justice Commissioner is required to prepare a Native Title Report each year for federal Parliament. Through these reports the Commissioner gives a human rights perspective on native title issues and advocates for practical co-existence between Indigenous and non-Indigenous groups in using land.

The Native Title Report 2001 looks at the right to negotiate and human rights, resourcing in the Native Title System and negotiating co-existence through framework agreements.

Agreements, Human rights, ILUA (Indigenous Land Use Agreement) Report
Native Title Report 2003 Australian Human Rights Commission

Under the Native Title Act 1993, the Social Justice Commissioner is required to prepare a Native Title Report each year for federal Parliament. Through these reports the Commissioner gives a human rights perspective on native title issues and advocates for practical co-existence between Indigenous and non-Indigenous groups in using land.

This report examines,

  • native title and the right to development
  • native title policies throughout Australia
  • native title and agreement making.
Agreements, Native Title Act Report
Native Title Report 2006 Australian Human Rights Commission

Under the Native Title Act 1993, the Social Justice Commissioner is required to prepare a Native Title Report each year for federal Parliament. Through these reports the Commissioner gives a human rights perspective on native title issues and advocates for practical co-existence between Indigenous and non-Indigenous groups in using land.

Agreements, Commercial development, Finance, Funding, Land rights, Mining, Water rights Report
Native Title Report 2010 Australian Human Rights Commission

Under the Native Title Act 1993, the Social Justice Commissioner is required to prepare a Native Title Report each year for federal Parliament. Through these reports the Commissioner gives a human rights perspective on native title issues and advocates for practical co-existence between Indigenous and non-Indigenous groups in using land.

Agreements, FPIC (Free Prior Informed Consent), Native Title Act, Partnerships Report
Owner's Consent? Pursuing Statutory Land Use Management Planning and Development Approval Rules for Registered Native Title Holders Bruce White, Vincent Mundraby

In a new world where there are increasing numbers of Australian Aboriginal Peoples obtaining positive native title determinations across large tracts of local government and/or nature conservation regulated lands:

  1. it is noted that in Queensland new local government statutory land use planning legislation excludes registered native title holders from standard development application owner's consent requirements and associated notification requirements
  2. it is further noted the relevant Queensland Department of Infrastructure, Local Government, and Planning is preparing proposed new statutory planning options for Aboriginal peoples including particularly registered native title holders
  3. it is also noted the statutory authority responsible for the management of 900 000 hectares of Wet Tropics World Heritage is reviewing its statutory land use management plans and the board of that Authority is seeking Aboriginal owners (native title) free, prior and informed consent to revise thier statutory management plan

Noting all the above Vincent Mundraby & Bruce White will assemble Queensland statutory land use planning specialists and agency representatives, and facilitate a workshop around the above two Queensland statutory planning case studies to discuss and explore how registered native title holders might be better integrated into statutory land use planning across Queensland & Australia.

Agreements, ILUA (Indigenous Land Use Agreement), PBCs (Prescribed Body / Bodies Corporate) Presentation
Partnerships for Indigenous Development: International Development NGOs, Aboriginal Organisations and Communities Janet Hunt

This paper outlines two pilot case studies which examine how international development non-government organisations (INGOs) conduct their work with Aboriginal organisations and communities in Australia.

CAEPR, Collaboration, Partnerships Article / paper
Researching Australian Indigenous Governance: A Methodological and Conceptual Framework Diane Smith

This paper sets out the methodological and conceptual framework for the Indigenous Community Governance (ICG) Project on Understanding, Building and Sustaining Effective Governance in Rural, Remote and Urban Indigenous Communities. The paper describes the Project’s research aims, questions, and techniques; explores key concepts; and discusses the ethnographic case-study and comparative approaches which form the core components of the methodological framework.

As an applied research project, the paper also considers the methodological issues inherent in participatory research, and for the dissemination and application of research findings within Indigenous and policy arenas. The framework draws on the multi-disciplinary expertise of the project team in areas such as anthropology, political science, demography, policy and legal studies, linguistics, and community development.

CAEPR, Governance Article / paper
Statistics for Community Governance: The Yawuru Indigenous Population Survey of Broome John Taylor, Bruce Doran, Maria Parriman, Eunice Yu

This paper presents a case study of an exercise in Aboriginal community governance. It sets out the background events that led the Yawuru Native Title Holders Aboriginal Corporation to secure information for its own needs as an act of self-determination and essential governance, and it presents some of the key findings from that exercise

CAEPR, Community development, Data sovereignty, Governance, PBCs (Prescribed Body / Bodies Corporate), Strategic planning Article / paper
Ten key messages from the preliminary findings of the Indigenous Community Governance Project, 2005 Janet Hunt, Diane Smith

The Indigenous Community Governance Project (ICGP) is an Australian Research Council Linkage Project between the Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research (CAEPR) at the Australian National University, and Reconciliation Australia (RA). The Project is exploring the nature of Indigenous community governance in diverse contexts and locations across Australia through a series of case studies—to understand what works, what doesn’t work, and why.

This document presents some key messages emerging from a summary of the comparative analysis of the Project’s 11 current Indigenous case studies, after the first phase of a longer study.

CAEPR, Governance Report