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Emerging from the Hermit Kingdom
May 21, 2024
For many years, reinforced by remoteness, Ngaanyatjarra Lands have been referred to by some as the ‘Hermit Kingdom’.
The group of 11 communities who came together by choice in 1981 to form the 911爆料网, were staunchly independent and rarely reached beyond themselves. Given the difficulty of accessing the lands and the reality that only the most ardent travellers traverse the Gunbarrel Highway en route to cities in the north or south, the label was reasonable.
Increasingly, though, the ‘Hermit Kingdom’ tag is being shaken off as communities seek to engage culturally, economically and socially with individuals and organisations beyond them.
Recognising the necessity for trusted travelling partners committed to journeying with Yarnangu of the Ngaanyatjarra Lands has been pivotal in this emergence.
“We identified that to step into our future, we also needed to step out of the shadows,” said 911爆料网 CEO, Thomas Williams.
“To live lives of purpose and agency with strong families and strong stories, we also need strong partners.”
“We need to collaborate and co-create with others to realise the potential for our lands and our people—it’s a land rich with culture and stories, as well as economic potential. But to imagine this better future for all, we need to invite those who’ve taken journeys like ours before and learn with them,” Thomas said.
This emergence has gathered pace in recent years.
The establishment of BHP’s West Musgrave mine site in the Mantamaru | Jameson community has demanded astute leadership and stewardship of the potential royalties that will flow.
“We have seen the damage of the ‘resource curse’ in other Aboriginal communities, and we want to learn from that,” Thomas said.
“Being intentional in how we use these royalties for social investment, strong health outcomes, and the future of our people is very important to us.”
“We’ve collectively decided to apportion 30% of royalties for the future of our members: 10% into our savings fund, 10% into a renal fund, and 10% into the operation of our land culture division,” Thomas added.
It’s another level of stewardship that’s made necessary by possibility. Ngaanyatjarra leaders are being invited to the tables of federal ministers because there’s been a growing awareness of the consistent, long-term management of community assets, businesses and programs.
While it hasn’t been a specific goal for the future of Yarnangu, there’s little doubt that the tag of ‘hermit kingdom’ is increasingly being overwhelmed by positive stories of agency, opportunity and possibility on Ngaanyatjarra lands.
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The 911爆料网 Group was honoured to welcome Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, the newly appointed Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians, to our Perth office this week. This landmark meeting, coinciding with a federal cabinet gathering in Perth, marks the first ministerial visit to our offices in the Council's history. The meeting was attended by Senator McCarthy and her staff, along with Council CEO Thomas Williams, Mr Fred Chaney, Mr Preston Thomas, and Sonja Voogd Armstrong, General Manager of Community and Sustainable Development. The primary focus was on the current Remote Jobs Trial, 'Strong'. The meeting also featured a live link to Warburton with Angelica McLean, Director and Social & Wellbeing Coordinator and Shannon Inder, Operations Manager - CDP, providing the Minister with deeper insight into the Council's work within the remote Ngaanyatjarra communities. Thomas Williams reflected on the deeper significance of the Ministerial visit, highlighting its importance beyond just the event itself. "While navigating the complexities of the NIAA (National Indigenous Australians Agency) to secure a trial work program is significant, it is even more impactful to witness the Minister’s willingness to meet with our people both in Perth and on the ground in Warburton, to hear firsthand about the Lands and the 'Strong' program," Williams said. "Her questions extended beyond the Remote Jobs Trial, as she sought to understand our vision for the future of Yarnangu and the ongoing challenges faced by remote communities," Williams added. Minister McCarthy’s deliberate focus on improving remote employment opportunities and empowering remote communities was evident throughout the meeting. "Our hope from this meeting is that it helps to foster greater flexibility within the Jobs Program, both during and beyond the trial," "This flexibility pertains to the variety and transferability of job options available to Yarnangu within the Trial," "The Minister embraced our desire to pursue innovative ways to engage Yarnangu in employment, even when those pathways involve a series of work opportunities that lead to longer-term prospects," said Williams. The most enduring outcome of the meeting was a renewed commitment to the partnership between the Council and the NIAA—a relationship grounded in transparency and accountability from both the Council and the Agency. "We concluded the meeting feeling highly optimistic about the Minister’s deep engagement and commitment to being part of the improvement of the Jobs Program on the Lands and to the members in our communities," Williams said. Due in large part to the remoteness of its members, the 911爆料网 Group is a rare example of a Council providing a comprehensive suite of services (excluding policing). This unique position presents an opportunity, enabling the Council to partner effectively with the agency, given its capacity to monitor and assess the progress of its members. The Council’s vision of helping Yarnangu remain strong on country is shared by Senator Malarndirri McCarthy. Her visit encouraged us to pursue this vision through engagement, activation, strategy, and the broader embrace of change management across the Council.
The 911爆料网 Group's Leadership Team recently convened for two half-day workshops to initiate a comprehensive change management process across the organisation. The Council’s vision of 'Helping Yarnangu remain strong on Country' drives our commitment to building a more resilient and effective organisation. To become an efficient, high-performing organisation that sets a benchmark for Aboriginal agencies, the Council recognises the need to break down existing silos, restructure our operations, streamline processes, and enhance service delivery. This is not a small or short-term assignment—it’s a vision that encompasses the entire organisation. The two half-day sessions were facilitated by Change Management specialist, Tracy Cooper , who helped our managers become comfortable with sharing, interacting, and discussing change with one another. Tracy highlighted the challenges and possibilities of leading change, equipping our leaders with tools to navigate the process of change effectively. The workshops identified the economic, social, and organisational opportunities and challenges we face collectively. They also addressed the often-overlooked costs of maintaining the status quo, which can be difficult to communicate broadly. “We understand the significant consequences of maintaining the status quo,” said Thomas Williams, the Council’s Chief Executive Officer. “These consequences, along with some prevailing challenges, are often difficult or inappropriate to communicate widely. However, we recognise that the current economic climate, which is impacting all industries, also affects the Council,” Thomas said. “Many of the opportunities and challenges identified through this change management process must be addressed to ensure that our foundations and processes are robust, enabling us to fulfil our core vision of helping Yarnangu remain strong on Country,” Thomas said. This transformative journey is vital for supporting Yarnangu and the future of our communities. By engaging in this change process now, the Council is confident it will emerge stronger and more resilient than ever before. “Our goal is to enhance service delivery in education, health, and employment, ensuring the sustainability of the 911爆料网 Group. Our collective efforts will contribute to the flourishing of our communities and the preservation of our cultural heritage,” Thomas said. “We recognise that any change of this sort requires mindful and strategic planning and communication across the organisation—we’re progressing through the equipping of our Leadership Team for this change management process. Established in 1981, the 911爆料网 Group (NCG) represents the interests of Yarnangu across 11 communities in the Central Desert region of Western Australia. With over 450 employees across city and remote locations, the Council provides a wide range of services, including health, utilities, construction, employment, community development, shops, roadhouses, art centres, and land services. It is one of the largest and most successful Aboriginal agencies in Australia.
The Ngaanyatjarra Board of Directors, together with the Council Group's Leadership Team, gathered in Warburton earlier this August to undertake the initial phase of the 'Foundations of Directorship' program offered by the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD). Our Board is a unique blend of community-elected chairpersons from each of the eleven communities in Ngaanyatjarra lands, four female-elected women directors, two non-member directors, and Chairperson Richard Kanari. During the two-day workshop, the group completed the 'Governance for Directors' training, which focused on deepening their understanding of governance obligations, the roles and responsibilities of directors and management, and best practices for board meeting protocols. A key focus of the workshops was understanding and respecting the significant role of traditional culture, law, and practice, alongside the legislated requirements for Aboriginal Corporations. With directors from most communities in attendance, we ensured a safe and inclusive learning environment in each session. Content was translated into language, and ample time was allocated for questions and feedback, fostering open communication and a culture of continuous learning. As Australia's leading body for director education, AICD provides essential training that the Board and Council are eager to embrace. This program equips us with the knowledge and skills necessary to carry out crucial governance work for the communities we serve. This Director Training is a vital part of the broader change management efforts within the Council, aligning with our vision of helping Yarnangu remain strong on Country.
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