Registrations Still Open for 2013 Welcome to Hedland Community Expo

There are still a couple of days left to register your organisation, group or business to take part in the 2013 Welcome to Hedland Community Expo, which takes place Friday 17 May from 5pm to 9pm at the South Hedland Town Centre.

The expo is an annual celebration of the Hedland region, giving community groups and businesses the chance to to connect with new residents and existing locals, with this year's event shaping up to be the most exciting yet.

If you would like to host a stall, perform or do a demo at the expo, go to the Town of Port Hedland website or download a registration form here. For more information, call (08) 9158 9660.

Registrations close this Friday, 3 May.

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

Are You The Next Pilbara Girl?

The final heats for Pilbara Girl 2012 are coming up, and after the success of this week's workshops in Port Hedland, there are still a few places left to be in the running for the crown.

Workshops will be run in Roebourne from Monday 23rd July to Friday 27th July, followed by a final heat on the Friday evening at 7pm. The workshops and heat will both take place at the Roebourne Community Hall.

The final contestants will then attend workshops in Karratha the following week from Monday 30th July to Friday 3rd August at the Youth Shed, before partaking in the final pageant on Friday 3rd August at 7pm, at the Tambrey Centre, Karratha.

The workshops aim to promote leadership skills and build self confidence, while the pageants showcase the beauty of our local Indigenous women and culture to the wider community.

Indigenous women aged 16 to 25 from Karratha, Roebourne and surrounding communities are encouraged to apply. If you are interested, please contact Nommie Wade on (08) 9195 5333, or email events@gme.com.au

The program is also looking for volunteers for the Roebourne final heat on the 27th July, and the Karratha final pageant on the 3rd August. Six ladies are needed to help the girls change backstage on both nights.

There is also the opportunity for community groups to fundraise on each night.

The organisers are additionally looking for an Indigenous person to share their personal journey with the girls during the workshops. If you have a story about overcoming obstacles that you think will inspire his year's Pilbara Girls, please contact Tangiora Hinaki on 0437 921 445, or email hinakihard@bigpond.com 

For more information on previous Pilbara Girl programs, visit Goolarri Media's website.

YMAC Celebrates NAIDOC week

Thank you to everyone who helped make this NAIDOC week special. Here are just a few photos from last week, when YMAC staff got to speak to people across Pilbara, in Geraldton and in Perth. We hope everyone had a great week celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and achievements

NAIDOC in Geraldton

NAIDOC in Port Hedland

NAIDOC in Tom Price

Meet a Minister in Port Hedland

Do you have an important issue you would like to discuss with a Government Minister?

The State Government is holding a 'Meet the Minister' function in Port Hedland on Sunday 29th July 2012, giving locals the opportunity to ask Ministers questions on matters that concern them.

If you would like to attend, contact Trish Barron at the Pilbara Development Commission on (08) 9173 8400 or email pdc@pdc.wa.gov.au to find out which Ministers will be present and register your interest. Registrations close 4pm, Thursday 5th July 2012.

Please note that it will only be possible for seven to eight people to meet individually with each Minister, so please apply soon to ensure your place.

For more information on the Pilbara Development Commission, please visit their website.

Community Grants available through resource companies

Applications are now open for community grants from BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto's Dampier Salt.

BHP Billiton's Community Grants Program provides financial assistance for initiatives that enhance community life in the areas of Indigenous wellbeing, environment, twonship amenity, quality education, health and wellbeing and community involvement.

Applications for BHP's Community Grants Program close on 1 May. For more information email waironorecommunity@bhpbilliton.com or call 9173 6680 (Port Hedland), 9175 3505 (Newman) or 6224 4243 (Perth)

Rio Tinto's Dampier Salt is offering financial assistance to short-term community projects in the Carnarvon, Dampier, Karratha and Port Hedland areas that are unique, innovative, address community and education issues, or require infrastructure.

Applications for Dampier Salt's Community Grants Scheme close on 29 June. For more information visit the Dampier Salt website, or call 9270 9252

Computers available for low income families in the Pilbara

Families in Karratha, Roebourne, Wickham, South Hedland and Port Hedland can now apply to the Smith Family to receive a refurbished home computer, a four-week basic computer training course, and a year of internet access, all for free.

The Smith Family’s Technology Packs initiative, in partnership with Royalties for Regions and BHP Billiton, was designed to provide families with a computer connected to the internet at home at an affordable cost. To be eligible, families must have school aged children, have proof of low income status (health care or pension concession card), and not already own a home computer.

The Smith Family is a children's charity that helps disadvantaged children. Click here to learn more about the Smith Family.

The "Tech Pack Project" aims to improve community digital literacy, equipping children and their families who may otherwise not be able to afford computers, with the technological skills that are now prerequisites for participation in lifelong learning and social inclusion.

According to the Smith Family, research shows that access to ICT (information, communication and technology) can increase study and employment opportunities for parents and young people, improve the capacity of parents to support children at school, increase the engagement of children at school, and improve individual’s self-esteem and overall wellbeing.

To find out more about the Tech Packs Project, or to register for a computer, contact Daphne Trevurza or Carol Warren (Karratha) on 9144 1854 or tsfkarratha@thesmithfamily.com.au,  or Nia Hadenfeldt  (Hedland) on 9172 2408 or tsfhedland@thesmithfamily.com.au

Marnti Warajanga exhibition touring the Pilbara

Nyangumarta boys taking their first steps on country as recognised native title holders, 11 June 2009. Photograph by Tobias Titz

Marnti Warajanga- a Walk Together is an exhibition of photographs and stories that will be touring Pilbara communities this May and June. Showcasing the photographs of Tobias Titz, including many images of the Nyangumarta people's native title determination in 2009, the exhibition has been on display at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House in Canberra.

As the project tours the Pilbara it will also include photography workshops and community celebrations along with a redeveloped version of the exhibition.  The Marnti Warajanga Pilbara tour dates for exhibitions and workshops are:

• 3-4 May, Hedland Senior High School
• 7-8 May, South Hedland Primary School
• 9-10 May, Wangka Maya Pilbara Aboriginal Language Centre (community BBQ on 9 May)
• 14-16 May, Strelley Remote Community School (community BBQ on 19 May)
• 21-24 May, Yandeyarra Remote Community School (community BBQ on 23 May)
• 28-29 May, Newman Senior High School
• 30 May, South Newman Primary School
• 31 May, Newman Primary School (community BBQ on 31 May)
• 5-7 June, Jigalong Remote Community School (community BBQ on 7 June)

Everyone is welcome to participate in the different events by trying some yandying, taking the children’s trail or having their portrait taken at the photographic workshop.

The exhibition will also be on display in Perth before heading north, from 13-30 April in Central Park.

For more information and to view some of the photographs visit the Marnti Warajanga page at the Museum of Australian Democracy's website.

The search is on for the next Pilbara Girl

The Pilbara Girl workshops and competition are back again for 2012 and the search is now on for the next group of contestants.

Indigenous women aged 16-25 from Port Hedland, Roebourne, Karratha and surrounding communities are encouraged to enter. The Pilbara Girl program, now in its third year, is based on the successful Kimberley Girl program that has been running since 2004.

The contestants participate in a series of workshops in Port Hedland, Karratha and Roebourne promoting leadership skills and self confidence. The workshops are followed by pageants that give the girls new skills and opportunities and promote Indigenous culture within the wider community.

For more information and to download an entry form visit Goolarri Media's website.

A chance for Pilbara young women to shine

Pilbara Girl is an annual event which aims to showcase the beauty of local Indigenous women to the world and reflect the diverse culture and heritage of the Pilbara communities. Through professional development, deportment and grooming and modeling workshops, young women build confidence, self-esteem and pride to become the next role models and mentors for these communities.

All young Indigenous women between the ages of 16 and 25 from Port Hedland, Roebourne, Karratha and surrounding communities are called to participate.
The workshops will be held in Port Hedland August 15-19 and Roebourne and Karratha on August 22-26.

Entry forms are available from Goolarri Media. Deadlines for entry are August 7 for Port Hedland and Roebourne and August 14 for Karratha.

For more information contact Buna-Tuaty Poelina on 08 91955333 or buna-tuaty.poelina@gme.com.au

Kariyarra Joint Venture Corporation in land development deal

The Kariyarra Mugarinya Joint Venture, a corporation that is run by the Kariyarra native title claim group and Mugarinya Community Association, is today celebrating the commencement of a joint property venture with the Department of Regional Development and Lands.

The deal provides funds to develop 12ha of residential land in Port Hedland that was allotted to the Kariyarra Maugarinya Joint Venture in 2007.

YMAC assisted the Kariyarra people to set up the Joint Venture and receive the land allotment, and is very pleased that Kariyarra Mugarinya has now secured this deal that will help develop housing and security for the community into the future. This is a great outcome for the Kariyarra people and YMAC congratulates them for their work through the Joint Venture that has resulted in this development deal.

Regional Development and Lands Minister Brendan Grylls is hosting an event to celebrate the announcement of the joint property venture in South Hedland today.



Applications open for Community Liaison Officers

YMAC is seeking motivated and enthusiastic individuals who have a strong desire to work with Aboriginal communities within the Yamatji and Pilbara regions and advancing their interests through the native title process.


There are positions based in YMAC's Geraldton, Karratha and South Hedland Offices.

You would be working to ensure claimants are informed and can participate in the management of their native title claims. You would also be acting as a source of information to the community about the organisation, the native title act and other relevant matters.

To be considered for this position, you must address briefly in your letter the following selection criteria:

• Ability to effectively and sensitively communicate and work within a team environment

• Excellent verbal, written, communication skills

• Proficiency with computers

• Good understanding of Aboriginal people, their culture and decision making processes

• Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills

• Current unrestricted manual ‘C’ class license is essential.

For further information about this position, please contact Human Resources on (08) 9268 7000.

Under S.50 (d) of the Equal Opportunity Act, an applicant’s Indigenous background is a genuine occupational qualification.

Job descriptions and an application form are available on our website www.yamatji.org.au, or contact Human Resources on (08) 9268 7000 or email jobs@ymac.org.au.

All applications must include a covering letter, completed application form, resume, and a statement addressing the selection criteria.

Applications can be posted to PO Box 3072, 256 Adelaide Terrace, Perth WA 6000, faxed to (08) 9268 7049 or emailed to jobs@ymac.org.au


Closing date for the above positions is 4.00pm Friday 20th May 2011

Free Indigenous Business Workshops in the Midwest and Pilbara

Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) is running free Into Business workshops to assist Aboriginal people who are interested in starting up a business. A series of three one-day workshops is available for aspiring Indigenous entrepreneurs who want to turn their business ideas into reality.

At the workshops participants work with a business specialist to learn how to thoroughly research their idea to determine whether it is a commercially viable, and what is required to manage a business on a day-to-day basis.

For those people who complete the three workshops, one-on-one assistance from an IBA-funded business consultant will be available to help take the next step towards building an income generating business.

The workshops are part of IBA’s national Business Development and Assistance Program, which aims to assist Indigenous Australians to establish, acquire and grow small to medium businesses.

The first of the three workshops will be held in Tom Price on 5 April, Port Hedland on 7 April, Geraldton on 14 April and another round in Geraldton on 20 July.

For more information or to register for the workshops call 1800 107 107