Resources and publications

This AGM roadmap has been updated to reflect the significant rule changes that have recently been made for virtual meetings. It remains a user-friendly tool that can be adapted to your entity’s specific needs. In addition to a clear list of deliverables, the roadmap provides you with a regulatory background for each step and prompts you to take action within automatically-generated deadlines.

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.

Checklist to help prepare for large community meetings.

The Coober Pedy region of South Australia is the traditional country of the Antakirinja Matu-Yankunytjatjara people. The Native Title journey of the Antakirinja Matu-Yankunytjatjara people started in 1995 when their claim commenced. After achieving Native Title determination, successfully negotiating a number of ILUAs and winning their first major commercial contract, their journey continues today.

This session will discuss the experiences of the Antakirinja Matu-Yankunytjatjara people and how they have used Native Title to help achieve their community aspirations. Ian Crombie, Antakirinja Matu-Yankunytjatjara Aboriginal Corporation vice-chairman and Elder, will describe the many obstacles, decisions, learnings and successes, that have brought the Antakirinja Matu-Yankunytjatjara people to where they are in their journey today. Importantly, he will discuss the challenges of balancing immediate community needs with both commercial opportunities and future goals. 

Information about developing a strategic plan

Westpac commissioned Urbis to undertake research to understand the key drivers of economic development for Indigenous Australians. The aim of the research was to provide an evidence-base analysis of factors that support entrepreneurship and economic development, building on Australian and international literature and research.

The overarching research question was: What factors lead to successful economic development and job creation in Indigenous communities?

The Good Governance Guide is a practical resource for anyone involved in the decision-making process in Victoria’s local government sector. It focuses on the areas where good governance has the most impact and offers suggestions for how it can work.

The topic 'Governing the Organisation' from the Indigenous Governance Toolkit has nine sections.

1. Governing the organisation
2. Roles, responsibilities and rights of a governing body
3. Accountability: what is it, to whom and how?
4. Decision-making by the governing body
5. Governing finances and resources
6. Communicating
7. Future planning
8. Building capacity and confidence for governing bodies
9. Case studies

This guidance offers suggestions reflecting the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and associated regulation. Companies will need to consider their individual circumstances, including their constitutions and any other relevant matters.

In the Native Title ‘hot tub’ outlines the history and development of expert conferencing and expert concurrent evidence in Australia, including in the Federal Court. These approaches to expert evidence are a major development of the last decade, greatly reducing the hearing time of Native Title proceedings and the costs to the parties involved. The authors explore how expert conferences and concurrent evidence can narrow the issues in the Native Title claims of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, discussing in particular their experiences in four recent cases.

This document provides guidance for applicants applying for PBC Capacity Building grant funding under the IAS. It provides key information to assist applicants to complete the application form and should be read in conjunction with the IAS Grant Guidelines. An Application Form and draft Project Agreement together with the IAS Guidelines can be found on the Department’s website.

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 provides an overview of the NTRU's analysis of the publicly available financial data submitted to the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC), and examines the financial growth and development of PBCs from the financial year 2010-11 to 2015-16.

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 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.

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.

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 Community Tool Box contains a range of information about community development including resources on strategic planning, leadership and communication.

PEST (Political, Economic, Social, Technological) analysis and SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis are common tools used in strategic planning for corporations.  This document provides examples used in PBC workshops and is therefore relevant to PBC business. It can be used as template to be modified to your PBC's needs. 

A number of native title groups have seeded their own Future Funds and are growing an asset base to meet the needs of future generations. We will discuss the governance policies, investment strategies and transparent reporting structures of Future Funds, including their ability to take a long term view of investments and ride out world economic cycles.

In Griffiths v Northern Territory of Australia (Timber Creek Decision) the Federal Court ordered that the Northern Territory Government pay $3.3M including $1,488,261 for interest, to the Traditional Owners as compensation. The court considered that ‘the appropriate interest calculation is simple interest’ as there was insufficient commercial activity to justify compounding returns. 

In this presentation we will explore how investing a portion of available funds in a Future Fund may influence the courts to apply compound interest. Economic modelling will demonstrate that with a Future Fund the settlement amount could’ve been entirely different.

A report detailing information obtained from corporations registered under the CATSI Act on remuneration and other benefits paid to directors, senior managers and other staff.

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.