YMAC Christmas Shutdown and Heritage Surveys

For many Aboriginal Communities in the Midwest and Pilbara, December to January is a special time of year to observe cultural obligations and practices.

Out of respect for these traditions, YMAC will not be conducting any heritage surveys between Monday 17 December 2012 and Friday 1 February 2013.

Any heritage survey requests received after 17 December will be scheduled to commence after 1 February.

Thank you for your understanding.

All YMAC offices in Perth, Geraldton, Karratha, South Hedland and Tom Price will be closed during the festive season from Thursday 20th December 2012, re-opening on Wednesday 2 January 2013.

YMAC’s Board of Directors, Pilbara and Yamatji Regional Committees, Management and Staff would like to wish you a happy and safe festive season.

Information session for Indigenous suppliers

The Australian Indigenous Minority Supplier Council (AIMSC) is a business-to-business membership body dedicated to growing diversity within the supply chain. AIMSC’s goal is to connect Australian corporate and government organisations with Indigenous business suppliers and ensure that small to medium Indigenous businesses have the opportunity to be integrated into the supply chains of Australian companies and Government agencies.

To promote its new office and physical presence in WA, AIMSC has organised a roadshow up the West Coast, visiting Perth, Port Hedland and Broome.

The Road Show will cover:
• Real Opportunities in WA forum
• Express Certification for Indigenous businesses who are Sole Traders/Sole Shareholders-Directors
• An overview and information session on the up coming changes to the Indigenous Opportunities Policy (IOP)

For more information visit www.aimsc.org.au/events

Indigenous Leadership Scholarships on Offer in WA

Applications are now open for the 2013 Indigenous Leadership Program, which aims to increase the number of Indigenous people in positions of leadership in the Western Australian resource sector.

The scholarship program, offered by Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA (CME) in partnership with the Australian Institute of Management (AIM),  provides Indigenous people currently employed within CME member companies with the opportunity to undertake a nationally accredited Certificate IV in Frontline Management.

The program is designed for those currently in management positions, and has been tailored specifically to meet the needs and learning styles of Indigenous managers and supervisors. The wide range of skills developed during the program enable participants to apply leadership and management expertise across many different work roles and industry sectors.

The program will run from 25 February-1 March 2013, with additional coaching sessions from 4 March-23 May 2013.

There are four scholarships on offer. Applications close Friday 9 November 2012.

For eligibility and application requirements, visit the CME website.

Application forms can be downloaded here. 

For further information, contact Bruce Campbell-Fraser on (08) 9220 8526, or email: b.campbell-fraser@cmewa.com

Community Forum on Constitutional Recognition

On Tuesday, 26 June 2012, a community forum will be held at Christ Church Anglican Church in the Perth suburb of Claremont to discuss constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

YMAC's In-house legal counsel, Dr. Carolyn Tan, will be chairing the discussion, with Hon. Fred Chaney and Tammy Solonec on the panel.

The topics to be discussed include:

• What is our Constitution?
• Why are changes needed?
• How should I vote in a National Referendum?

Click here for more information on the event.

For more information on constitutional recognition, visit the You Me Unity website.

New Perth mailing address

Please note that effective immediately, the new mailing address for YMAC’s Perth office is:

PO Box 3072, 249 Hay Street

East Perth WA 6892

Our street address remains the same. Please update your records accordingly.

NAIDOC profile: The Bartlett Brothers

The Bartlett Brothers is an Indigenous rock band made up of sing-songwriter multi instrumentalists Phil and Jason Bartlett, their younger brother Azrael on drums and bassist Rob Findlay. They describe their music as “soulful rootsy pop rock sounds with soaring harmonies”, and they draw imagery and inspiration from their country and heritage.

Set to be stars of NAIDOC in WA this year, the band is appearing at NAIDOC festivals in Perth and Karratha. “NAIDOC is important for everyone, not just indigenous people,” said Phil Bartlett. “It gives everyone a chance to feel indigenous culture.”

The Bartlett Brothers are no strangers to travelling up to the Pilbara. Although their family’s roots are in the Midwest and the Southwest regions of WA, the brothers went to schools in the Pilbara and the Kimberley. They have had plenty of chances to go back and visit, as the hard-working band has been playing gigs and touring for many years.

“What I’m most proud of is how hard we’ve worked. We’re now becoming recognised and well known, and it’s all through hard work. We’ve been doing this for fifteen years, it didn’t just happen,” said Phil.

The band is gaining plenty of recognition, as their list of awards keeps growing. They have received awards from the Too Solid Awards, WA Music Industry, NAIDOC, and Next Best Thing, and Jason made it to the top 24 of Australian Idol.

Phil says that the band draws inspiration from Indigenous musicians that came before them, like Archie Roach, who will also be performing at the Karratha NAIDOC community festival. “To be playing with Archie Roach is fantastic. Back when he started out it was pretty hard for Aboriginal musicians, but people like him set the way for us,” said Phil. “Indigenous music is getting bigger and bigger. There are more pathways, more money, more opportunities for Indigenous artists, and more and more of us are touring, recording albums, and putting up websites. It’s only a matter of time before the next big Aboriginal act becomes a household name.”

You can see the Bartlett Brothers at the Perth NAIDOC ball on Friday, 8 July and at the Karratha NAIDOC closing community festival on Sunday, 10 July.

Across Australia every July, NAIDOC Week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. In honour of NAIDOC 2011 YMAC is featuring a series of Aboriginal people and organisations that contribute to the vibrant Aboriginal culture of the Midwest and Pilbara. For more information on NAIDOC including its history and events happening near you, visit http://www.naidoc.org.au/.