- Strengthening Aboriginal-led heritage management across the Mid West and Gascoyne
- Supporting Traditional Owners to protect cultural heritage and make informed decisions on Country
- Creating local jobs and delivering lasting benefits for Aboriginal communities and regional WA
The Cook Labor Government is strengthening Aboriginal heritage management across the Mid West and Gascoyne through investment in local jobs, stronger governance and Aboriginal-led decision-making.
Grants provided through the Native Title Party Capacity Building Program are helping 11 Aboriginal organisations across the region build the capability needed to deliver effective cultural heritage management services and meet growing responsibilities for heritage protection, land use, and agreement-making.
The $3.2 million in funding is supporting frontline heritage services, workforce development, staffing, and organisational resources, helping Aboriginal organisations strengthen governance, improve operational systems, and build community knowledge of Aboriginal heritage.
The investment recognises the important role Aboriginal leadership, economic participation, and community development play in the long-term prosperity of regional Western Australia.
By building the capability of native title organisations, the program is creating local employment opportunities, supporting stronger Aboriginal-led organisations, and helping ensure heritage management contributes to sustainable regional development.
Wajarri Yamaji Aboriginal Corporation has used the funding to expand its workforce and establish robust systems for managing and reporting on heritage activities, strengthening its ability to work with Traditional Owners and project proponents.
Across the Mid West and Murchison, Yugunga-Nya Native Title Aboriginal Corporation is enhancing its capability to negotiate heritage agreements and undertake heritage protection activities on Country, including heritage surveys and monitoring.
Malgana Aboriginal Corporation has used the funding to develop a formal pathway for Elders to share cultural knowledge about the spiritual significance of coast, land, and waters. This work is strengthening cultural governance, supporting informed decision-making, and improving engagement on heritage matters.
Established in 2023, the Cook Labor Government’s $58 million Native Title Party Capacity Building Program supports eligible Aboriginal organisations to respond to increasing demands associated with heritage management, land use planning, and agreement-making, while ensuring important cultural values are protected.
All 77 participating native title parties receive ongoing funding through three or four-year agreements, providing greater certainty to build strong organisations, create local employment opportunities, and support Traditional Owners to make informed decisions about activities on their Country.
More information about the program including a list of recipients can be found online at www.wa.gov.au/government/document-collections/native-title-party-capacity-building-program .
As stated by Aboriginal Affairs Minister Don Punch:
“Strong Aboriginal organisations are critical to protecting cultural heritage and supporting Traditional Owners to make informed decisions on Country.
“This program is helping native title parties strengthen governance, build local expertise, and create jobs while meeting their growing heritage responsibilities.
“Aboriginal leadership, economic participation, and community development are vital to the long-term prosperity of regional Western Australia.
“By investing in Aboriginal-led organisations, we’re protecting cultural heritage, strengthening local decision-making, and creating opportunities that benefit Aboriginal communities and the wider region.
“The Cook Labor Government is committed to empowering native title organisations to lead heritage management on Country while building capability, supporting local employment, and delivering lasting benefits for Aboriginal people and regional Western Australia.”
