Resources and publications

Since 2016, AIATSIS has contributed to a number of reviews of the CATSI Act including the Technical Review of the CATSI Act (2017) and CATSI Review Phase 1 (2020). Throughout this report, the AIATSIS researchers refer to the AIATSIS submissions for both of these reviews.

This paper examines the potential for native title organisations with limited asset bases to engage in successful commercial activity through joint venture enterprises. 

Firstly, we describe the development of the Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations as a state ‘peak-body’ of local native title organisations. We then discuss the Federation’s program of economic and commercial development both for its members and as an entity in itself, including the establishment of its incorporated joint ventures; Barpa Constructions Pty Ltd and On Country Heritage and Consulting Pty Ltd and commentary on the significance of the Commonwealth’s Indigenous Procurement Policy as a factor in this process.

The final section of the paper draws upon the experience of the Federation to examine how the legitimacy bestowed by the community ownership of native title organisations’ businesses creates a market advantage which is attractive to joint venture partners and can more than offset and deficit in terms of monetary resources available for investment in a newly established enterprise.

The paper concludes by reflecting that the market advantage bestowed by community ownership may well be a product of the racism inherent in Australian society’s hostility to wealthy Indigenous individuals.

The Centre for Native Title Anthropology is giving attention to the role of anthropologists in the post-determination phase. It investigates the methodology and learnings of the CLC community development unit in working with groups and communities in managing income streams from their lands for wider benefit is of considerable potential interest to anthropologists. It offers an illustrative example of the intense, collaborative engagement that is necessary at this intersection of Aboriginal and wider value systems, where monies gained from activities on Aboriginal lands are invested into broader community benefit. For these reasons, there is much to learn which is relevant to the governance of compensation funds held in trust by PBC and other entities (such as those established under mining agreements with Aboriginal groups). The podcast series also investigates the ethical and political issues they all face as anthropologists working with Aboriginal groups on social change in a framework of self-determination.

David Martin interviews Ian Sweeney, the Unit’s Manager, and four of the Project Officers, Dave Howard, Cecilia Tucker, Dianna Newham, and Carl O’Sullivan.

The purpose of this Commissioner’s Interpretation Statement is to provide guidance on the ACNC’s view on the meaning and scope of the charity subtype of ‘Public Benevolent Institution’ (PBI) for ACNC purposes.

The Good Governance Principles and Guidance for Not-for-Profit Organisations (Principles and Guidance) have been created by the Australian Institute of Company Directors as part of their commitment to the not-for-profit (NFP) sector and its directors. The Principles and Guidance: • Are designed to promote and facilitate the crucial conversations and associated activities NFP organisations undertake regularly to achieve good governance. • Are not an attempt to formulate rules on what might constitute good governance practice for NFP organisations, or prescribe related behaviours and specific actions.

The objective of this Good Governance Principles and Guidance for Not-for-Profit Organisations (Principles and Guidance) is to share with the NFP community some key principles that are a useful starting point for NFP boards when considering what constitutes good governance practice (with regard to their particular circumstances).

This paper gives a brief description of what type of documentation is needed for a native title claim, what happens to the materials both during and after the claim process and how the research creates a valuable community asset. Finally, there is consideration of various options for the management of the historical material to give greater access and control to the indigenous communities in NSW.

This guidebook provides general information on how to get into local and regional media.

Junyirri is intended to guide people in thinking about their current language situation, their aspirations for the use of language in their community, what assets their community has available, and the types of language programs that might be suitable for their situation.

This is the ANTaR Submission to the Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs Inquiry into Language Learning in Indigenous Communities. Two years after the launch of the Federal Government’s strategy for preserving Indigenous languages, Indigenous Languages – A National Approach 2009, the Inquiry provides a valuable opportunity to assess the effectiveness of current Federal, State and Territory government policy in the area, and incumbent maintenance and revitalisation programs.

Native title materials created in the process of native title, land claim and cultural heritage work include individual statements, expert reports, genealogies, field notes and other materials. This paper addresses some of the legal issues arising in relation to the transfer of research material from NTRB/SPs to RNTBCs.

This guidebook provides information about how a board member in a non-profit or voluntary organization manages conflict. 

The Mornington Island Restorative Justice (MIRJ) Project has worked with families to establish a community-based alternative dispute resolution (mediation or peacemaking) service inclusive of Island culture and conforming to the requirements of the criminal justice system.

Sharing Success Governance Workbook is a valuable resource introducing Indigenous community governance concepts, examples of good practices, signs of problems and diagnostic checklists used for a Reconciliation Australia Sharing Success Indigenous governance workshop held in September 2007 in Mt Isa, Queensland. The content of the workbook is drawn from the findings of the Indigenous Community Governance Research Project and analysis of all the Indigenous Governance Award applications. This workbook is an example of one of the very practical tools for Indigenous communities and organisations that has been developed from the Indigenous Community Governance research. 

In this award-winning work Carlson explores the complexities surrounding Aboriginal identity today. Drawing on a range of historical and research literature, interviews and surveys, The politics of identity explores Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal understandings of Aboriginality and the way these are produced and reproduced across a range of sites and contexts.

Emphasising Indigenous debates and claims about Aboriginality, The politics of identity explores both the community and external tensions around appropriate measures of identity and the pressures and effects of identification. An analysis of online Indigenous communities on social media that have emerged as sites of contestation adds to the growing knowledge in this area, both nationally and globally.

This is a brave and personal contribution to the often vexed subject of Aboriginal identity and offers a distinctive and fresh line of analysis.

The Two-way Governance Resource has been designed to support and promote two way learning and informed decision making (related to mainstream governance) in remote Aboriginal Communities in the Northern Territory.

The aim of Warra is to make the collaborative work of producing Indigenous language resources easier for all involved. 

The research informing this paper engaged directly with young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people about their experiences of native title. This paper reveals a number of emerging issues for the native title sector and related fields such as governance, land and water management, and the wider community sector. Key insights in this paper include the evolving ways in which connections to country and culture are being experienced; the importance of active and ongoing support and mentorship; and the need for improved access to native title knowledge and information.