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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

The Australian Government acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and acknowledges their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the Elders past and present.

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Newslines Radio: Indigenous Governance Awards recognise inspiring leaders

Culture and Capability

Newslines speaks to the leaders of some of Australia’s most successful Indigenous organisations about the importance of good governance at the 2012 Indigenous Governance Awards.

Across Australia, hundreds of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations are using good governance practices to ensure they make a positive difference in their communities.

The Australian Government recognises that Indigenous people, organisations and communities need the capacity to shape their own futures and that good governance practices are essential to doing this.

Newslines Radio caught up with some inspiring Indigenous leaders during the 2012 Indigenous Governance Awards held in Melbourne last month.

In this program you will hear from Miriuwung Gajerrong vice-chair Helen Gerrard, Yiriman Project founder John Watson, NPY Women’s Council coordinator Andrea Mason, and Murdi Paaki Regional Assembly chair Sam Jeffries, talking about their governance strategies and why they believe Indigenous leadership in community is so important.

As Helen Gerrard tells Newslines: “we have to have the self-determination. We have to be in control of where we want to go. It’s all about empowering ourselves and building sustainability for the future for our kids.”

Find out more

The Australian Government recognises that Indigenous people, organisations and communities need the capacity to shape their own futures in order to Close the Gap on Indigenous disadvantage.

 The  Indigenous Governance Awards were created by Reconciliation Australia, in partnership with BHP Billiton, to identify, celebrate and promote effective Indigenous governance.