About the Indigenous Governance Awards

About the Awards

The Indigenous Governance Awards were created by Reconciliation Australia in partnership with BHP Billiton to identify, celebrate and promote effective Indigenous governance. Effective Indigenous governance is about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people making and implementing decisions about their communities, lives and futures.

The national awards highlight success in Indigenous Australia—strong leadership, good management, effective partnerships and brave, creative thinking.  The Awards have been running since 2005.

2010

Carbon Media, 2010 Indigenous Governance Award winners

There are two award categories:

A. Outstanding examples of Indigenous governance in Indigenous incorporated organisations

B. Outstanding examples of Indigenous governance  in a non-incorporated initiative or project

Category B is NEW in 2012. Learn more about Category B

Prizes

  • The winners in each category will receive $20,000 to further the development of their organisation, project or initiative and the highly commended winners will each be awarded $10,000.
  • Finalists will receive a partnership package with a high profile corporate partner, who will provide mentoring and assistance in an area identified by the finalist. All finalists will receive an award to commemorate their achievement.
  • Two members from each finalist organisation will receive funding to travel to Melbourne to attend the Awards presentation in October 2012.
  • Each finalist organisation will be featured in Awards promotion including the Awards website.

How can my organisation apply for the Awards?

Applications are open from 31 January 2012 to 31 May 2012. Apply here.

There are application guides to help guide you through the application process including information about the questions and tips and case studies. We’re also offering assistance with applications in 2012, so please contact us if you require help.

To be eligible for the Awards, the majority of your governing body or decision-making group must be Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. We do encourage partnership projects to apply and organisations with a mix of Indigenous and non-Indigenous board members, however more than 50 per cent of the governing body must be Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.

Can I nominate an organisation or project/initiative that I think deserves to be in the running?

In 2012 we’re accepting nominations or referrals of organisations, projects or initiatives that demonstrate effective governance. The IGA team will get in touch with the nominees, send them information about the Awards and encourage them to apply.

Nominate here or email iga@reconciliation.org.au with the contact details of your nominee.

The selection criteria

We’re looking for governance that demonstrates:

  • Innovation
  • Effectiveness
  • Self-determination and leadership
  • Cultural relevance and legitimacy
  • Future planning and governance resilience.

View Category A selection criteria and Category B selection criteria.

How are the applications assessed?

An independent panel of judges will review each application and up to four organisations will be selected as finalists in each category. Each finalist organisation will receive a site visit from members of the judging panel in mid-2012. The panel will then review the site visit reports and select the winners.

What are the site visits for the finalists?

The site visit will involve consultation with members of the governing body or decision-making group as well as employees and managers (if applicable). The visit will also include meetings with stake-holders.

When will the finalists and winners be announced?

The finalists will be announced in September 2012. All applicants will be contacted in writing soon after this date. The award winners will be announced at the presentation event in October 2012.

 Governance has to do with how people organise themselves to get things done. The heart of governance is the rules a community or business puts in place to meet its overall objectives: how authority and responsibility are distributed, how disputes are resolved, what our obligations are to each other, and how we work together. Sometimes those rules are made by outsiders—that's what happens in colonial situations. Sometimes societies make them for themselves. Sometimes they write them down in constitutions. Sometimes they exist in oral traditions and in teachings passed from generation to generation. But all societies have rules that govern how they act. Effective governance means having rules that are capable of achieving your objectives." Professor Stephen Cornell, Co-Director of the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development

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