Indigenous Governance Awards 2010
Winners announced
Media Release – 27 August 2010
A Brisbane media production company and a remote homelands support service from North East Arnhem Land are taking home top honours in the 2010 Indigenous Governance Awards.
Announcing the winners of the 2010 Awards at a gala luncheon in Melbourne, Reconciliation Australia Co-Chair Professor Mick Dodson said he was proud to be telling the good news about Indigenous communities.
“Carbon Media Events and Laynhapuy Homelands Association Incorporated are doing remarkable things in the governance space and it is my great pleasure to present them with the Indigenous Governance Awards for 2010,” Prof Dodson said.
“We know that mainstream media is always ready to highlight problems and shortcomings in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs, so it is fantastic to see high-quality Indigenous organisations being acknowledged for their work.
“What these organisations are achieving, and how they do what they do, confirms my convictions that community driven initiatives are the key to real progress,” Prof Dodson said.
The Indigenous Governance Awards were created by Reconciliation Australia and BHP Billiton to identify, celebrate and promote strong leadership, good management and effective partnerships.
BHP Billiton Group Executive and Chief People Officer, Karen Wood said, “We have enjoyed working with Reconciliation Australia for more than 10 years and are proud to support an awards program that recognises the outstanding achievements of Indigenous organisations in governance and reconciliation”.
“Today’s winners have shown that not only are they participating in, and contributing to society as thriving enterprises, but they are also demonstrating the courage to lead the way for others.” Carbon Media Events was the winner of Category A (organisations established less than 10 years) and Laynhapuy Homelands Association took out Category B (organisations established more than 10 years). Both organisations received $10,000 prize money.
In Category A the Highly Commended award went to Noongar Mia Mia and in Category B it was awarded to North Coast Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health.
An independent judging panel made up of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people reviewed all of the applications and assessed the finalists (see attached list of judges).
Eight Indigenous organisations, covering a broad range of areas from housing, education and health to media and the arts, were selected as 2010 Award finalists.
Further information about the Indigenous Governance Awards: www.reconciliation.org.au
2010 INDIGENOUS GOVERNANCE AWARDS - WINNERS
Category A – Organisations established for less than 10 years
Carbon Media Events Pty Ltd
Carbon Media is a privately owned new media production company, based in Brisbane.
Carbon was set up in 2006 and has since broken the mould of traditional production houses by offering design and delivery of content across all genres and platforms - television, internet and mobile.
Carbon is wholly Aboriginal owned and passionate about promoting Indigenous culture, languages and people using the latest technology. They have produced the highly acclaimed Indigenous children‟s spelling and grammar gameshow - Letterbox - now broadcast on ABC3, NITV and the Australia Network.
Carbon is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) that, in conjunction with partners, nurtures the training of Indigenous young people.
Category B – Organisations that have been established for longer than 10 years
Laynhapuy Homelands Association Incorporated
Providing services to 24 permanently occupied remote homelands of varying size over 10,500 square kilometres in North East Arnhem Land, the Laynhapuy Homelands Association supports and sustains these communities.
Since 1985 Laynhapuy has had the responsibility to supply the structure and support for the development of homeland facilities and services, to maintain the land, the culture and the Wanga (homelands centre) for future generations and to support them in the achievement of self sufficiency in the management and determination of the Yolngu people.
Programs are focused on the maintenance and protection of country and culture, employment, training and economic development opportunities, good standards of communications and infrastructure in homelands and good health, social and community development and educational outcomes.
2010 INDIGENOUS GOVERNANCE AWARDS – HIGHLY COMMENDED
Category A – Organisations established for less than 10 years
Noongar Mia Mia Pty Ltd
Noongar Mia Mia was established in 2000 by Perth's Noongar Regional Council (former ATSIC Regional Council) to provide and manage public housing for Indigenous people and encourage Aboriginal home ownership.
It is an Indigenous owned and controlled company that exclusively operates as a property manager of rental accommodation, both owned and subleased, for Indigenous people in the Perth Metropolitan area.
The company's values reflect an outlook that is both Indigenous and commercial and it provides a high profile and effective service to Aboriginal people in the Perth area while concurrently maintaining strong cultural links to the people and land.
Category B – Organisations that have been established for longer than 10 years
North Coast Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health
The North Coast Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health was established to address the health needs of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community of the Sunshine Coast and Gympie regions.
Through consultation, the local communities expressed a need for a Health Service that would deliver culturally appropriate health care services.
Since 2001 NCACCH has been operating a unique brokerage system which finds and „buys‟ the best and most cost effective health service available from established mainstream health services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
It is an innovative approach which focuses on cost-effectiveness, professionalism, cultural appropriateness and partnerships.
2010 INDIGENOUS GOVERNANCE AWARDS JUDGES
The 2010 Indigenous Governance Awards judging panel comprised:
- Professor Mick Dodson, Co-Chair Reconciliation Australia and IGA Chair
- Leah Armstrong, Reconciliation Australia‟s new Chief Executive
- Gary Banks, Productivity Commission
- Eddie Cubillo, Northern Territory Anti-Discrimination Commissioner
- Glenda Humes, CEO South West Aboriginal Medical Service
- Simon Longstaff, St James Ethics Centre
- Jamie Love, BHP Billiton
- Heather Ridout, Australian Industry Group Chief Executive.
Media Contact: Kylie Thompson, 0418 633 277 or kylie.thompson@reconciliation.org.au
