Waltja Tjutangku Palyapayi Aboriginal Corporation from Alice Springs last night topped the 2014 Indigenous Governance Awards for the best run Aboriginal organisation or project in Australia.
At a gala dinner last night at BHP Billiton’s headquarters in Melbourne, Waltja – delivering services to families and communities – tied with Swan Hill’s The Marruk Project for the gong decided by a high-calibre judging panel, including the heads of the Business Council and Productivity Commission.
They assess the finalists against criteria including self-determination, cultural relevance and legitimacy, future planning, and resilience.
Awards chair Professor Mick Dodson says: “To me it is clear, when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are empowered to take the lead in decisions about their lives and draw on culture as a source of strength and resilience, anything is possible. The 2014 finalists are perfect examples of this.”
Reconciliation Australia, in partnership with BHP Billiton, holds the awards biennially. In 2014, a record 113 high-quality applications were received from a diverse range of organisations, hailing from some of Australia’s remotest communities and busiest cities.
PHOTO by Wayne Quilliam shows Waltja staff Sonja Dare, Erin Turner, and James Fielding.
(Contributed)
Congratulations to Waltja Tjutangku Palyapayi Aboriginal Corporation from Alice Springs and Swan Hill’s The Marruk Project.
Absolutely Wonderful!
Apart from this award for good governance exactly what has Waltja achieved?
Excellent decision to give the award to Waltja (and the Marruk Project). Thanks to all the Waltja Staff and the directors for many years of great work.