Spotlight on

Arnhem Land, Northern Territory: Beginning in 1972 as a cooperative of community stores in seven communities, The Arnhem Land Progress Aboriginal Corporation (ALPA) is now the highest-earning corporation under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (CATSI Act). In 2015–16 it generated income of over $95 million—with a tidy $5 million surplus for its five member communities—Galiwinku, Gapuwiyak, Milingimbi, Minjilang and Ramingining. It’s a smart, diverse operation strengthened by a passion for bridge-building.

Yirrkala, Northern Territory: The Rirratjingu clan, traditional owners of land on the Gove Peninsula, is well-known for its leadership. In 1963, when the Australian Government excised over 300 square kilometres of land from the Arnhem Land reserve for bauxite mining— without consulting the traditional owners—five Rirratjingu brothers took action.

Top End, Northern Territory: Top End Aboriginal Bush Broadcasting Association (Aboriginal Corporation) (TEABBA) has operated in the Northern Territory for almost three decades. It first incorporated in 1989 and is registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (CATSI Act). TEABBA has always been a non-profit organisation driven by and for members of the Aboriginal communities it serves; from Wadeye and Kalkarindji in the west, the Tiwi Islands to the north and Arnhem land and Groote Eylandt to the east.

Twin Hill Station, 130kms south-west of Darwin, Northern Territory: Twin Hill Station is a successful Indigenous cattle business owned and run by its members who are the traditional owners, the Mak Mak Marranunggu of the Delissaville, Wagait, Larrakia Aboriginal Land Trust. The station comprises 375 square kilometres of land on the edge of Litchfield National Park, an hour south-west of Darwin.

Cairns, Qld: Nine years ago, when he was 20, Jesse Martin sat down in a Cairns shopping centre with an officer from ORIC and incorporated the Streets Movement Indigenous Corporation (TSM). He was relaxed, confident and dressed like most young people in Cairns at the time—baseball cap backwards and baggy rapper-style clothes.

Move forward ten years and Jesse is now as comfortable in a suit and the corporate boardrooms of Sydney as he is in a gym. And now he is taking his model of helping young people doing it tough around Australia and the world.

Taree, New South Wales: A few months ago, Biripi Aboriginal Corporation Medical Centre opened the doors to a stunning new building that operates as a hub for community wellbeing. It was the culmination of a long-held dream of the members and directors to join up its buildings and revamp the old baby health clinic in a way that respected its heritage value.

Woolloongabba, Queensland: Few would disagree that the work Link-Up (QLD) carries out is of the highest importance. For more than 30 years the corporation has helped people to connect with relatives that were lost to them because of past Australian Government policies. Up to the 1970s, state and national government practices saw Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander children removed from their families and communities.

Derby, Western Australia: Garl Garl Walbu Alcohol Association Aboriginal Corporation was incorporated in 1988 to contribute to policy and research about alcohol and drug misuse and related problems among Aboriginal people in the Kimberley—and to care for people affected. The corporation is based in Derby, in the West Kimberley region of Western Australia—a long way from Perth and Darwin.

The effect of alcohol and drugs

One of the corporation’s directors, Nola D’Antoine, describes how problematic alcohol and drugs are for this community:

Frankston South, Melbourne:

Welcome to Bunurong country, land of our ancestors, land of the Kulin.

These are the words of respected Bunurong elder, Chris West, as he welcomes visitors to Bunurong country, which takes in much of Melbourne.

Chittaway Bay, New South Wales central coast: Founded in 1994, The Glen, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre for men run by Ngaimpe Aboriginal Corporation, is now in its third decade of saving lives and nurturing spirits. Every year, its ‘business’ strengthens. How do they do it? And is it significant that all the board members of Ngaimpe Aboriginal Corporation are women? The short answer is: perhaps. But what definitely drives the success of this corporation is the very singular purpose shared by the board, the CEO and the staff.