Eight of Australia’s top Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations have been selected from a record pool of 113 nominees in the prestigious 2014 Indigenous Governance Awards (IGA).
The finalists hail from Australia’s remotest communities and busiest cities and represent a diverse range of sectors.
An independent judging panel chaired by Professor Mick Dodson had the unenviable task of selecting the finalists from what he described as “a truly outstanding field of applicants”.
“Since the inception of the Indigenous Governance Awards in 2005, the depth, breadth and calibre of the nominations has continued to increase,” Professor Dodson said
“From every corner of the country, the IGA finalists demonstrate that whatever the project—be it land and sea management, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, education and training or health—Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations are achieving impressive results in often challenging environments.”
Reconciliation Australia, in partnership with BHP Billiton, holds the Indigenous Governance Awards biennially to identify, celebrate and promote strong Indigenous governance.
“Our finalists represent the best of what is happening in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities around the country,” Professor Dodson said.
“The reality is that we are starting to see consistency in the quality and quantity of highly successful Aboriginal and Torres Strait organisations across the country and it’s time that mainstream Australia took notice of their success.”
“These organisations indisputably deliver results and are examples of self-determination and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples leading positive change.”
The 2014 finalists are:
| Category A – Incorporated organisations | Category B – Non-incorporated projects |
| Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience | The Marruk Project |
| Girringun Aboriginal Corporation | Muntjiltjarra Wurrgumu Group, Wiluna |
| Institute for Urban Indigenous Health | |
| Ngnowar Aerwah Aboriginal Corporation | |
| Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency | |
| Waltja Tjutangku Palyapayi Aboriginal Corporation |
