1.5 Governance in Indigenous organisations
- How many and where are they?
- Indigenous organisations often play a bigger role
- Control and ownership
- Who is in a corporation?
How many registered Indigenous corporations are there and where are they?
Collage of photos of different office fronts/staff of Indigenous organisations
At 30 June 2008, 2605 corporations were registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (CATSI Act). ORIC estimates that there are at least as many Indigenous corporations registered under other legislation.
In other words, there are about 5000 Indigenous organisations in Australia, which roughly works out to one organisation for every 100 Indigenous people. (In the 2006 census there were estimated to be about 517,000 Indigenous people in Australia.)
Indigenous organisations have an average of six people on their governing boards—so this means that about 30,000 people are directors or governing board members in Australia.
Most groups incorporated under the federal legislation are located in remote areas and are publicly funded.
Some organisations generate substantial private income through their own enterprises and resource agreements, such as those linked to mining, compensation and some linked to the arts industry. Many hold significant community assets.
ORIC map of Australia, Location of Indigenous corporations by ICC region at 30 June 2008
Indigenous organisations often play a bigger role
Indigenous organisations often have to perform broader community governance roles without the proper funding or a proper legal, structural and community basis for such a broad role.
Organisations that have improved their governance have found they have greater control over their own affairs and can plan their future better.
See: Resource 1.10 Tips—Top 15 healthy corporations tips
Control and ownership
To gain greater ownership and control over their daily work, many Indigenous organisations are looking at what they do.
They are:
- reviewing their membership
- reviewing community and stakeholder expectations
- reviewing their leadership
- reviewing other governance arrangements
- reviewing their rules.
When you redesign or rebuild your governance it is important that the ideas and solutions come from the members, leaders and staff of the organisation itself.
Have a look at ORIC’s Rule Book to help you create or change your corporation’s rules. It comes in varying formats—full, condensed and pictorial.
ORIC also offers information sessions to Indigenous groups who want to incorporate.
See: www.oric.gov.au
Who is in a corporation?
An organisation, association or corporation is likely to have:
See: Resource 1.11 Quiz—Do this quiz to check your understanding of what you have learnt in this chapter.
Read next: 2. Culture and governance
Read previous: 1.4 Corporate and organisation governance