National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples: What will a new leadership structure bring?

The idea that Indigenous people should have their own democratically elected governance structures is referred to directly and indirectly in more than one article in the United Nations’ Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous people (UNDRIP). If Australia as a nation wants to have a mature response to the socio-economic woes affecting its Indigenous population, self-determination, self-representation and direct input into political decision making and policy development are systems that must be implemented. However, recent Australian political history hasn’t been favourable toward this model, as paternalistic and top down approaches have once again become the preferred method of engagement.

In 2005, the Australian Government with support from the then Labor opposition, declared that Indigenous self-determination was a “failed experiment”, and set about dismantling the remaining components of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC). Granted, there were allegations of personal and financial mismanagement in the organisation, however one wouldn’t be blamed for pointing out the irony of that reasoning when comparing circumstances and issues to recent misconduct in State and National Governments.

After the dismantling of ATSIC, and subsequent high profile policy and program failures of the Northern Territory Intervention/ ‘Stronger Futures’, ATSIC’s spiritual successor, the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples (Congress), restated the importance of a national representative body for Indigenous people as a means to ‘closing the gap’ with the “Our Future in Our Hands” report. Although a spiritual successor, Congress operations are somewhat different to ATSIC, staying within a well-defined scope of advocacy rather than becoming tied to an easily criticised and competitive service provision ‘market’.

Since its inception Congress has also demonstrated that good governance principles and integrity are in themselves a way in which to advocate, excelling beyond even mainstream board structures with a commitment to gender equality.

As Congress moves into its latest co-chair elections, there is now an opportunity for its leadership to address some of the outstanding issues that congress has received criticism for since its inception; including- better engagement with Indigenous people, especially outside of the East-Coast based states, better engagement with young Indigenous people, and advocacy for a more transparent and accountable constitutional reform process, just to name a few.

Good governance principles and integrity are in themselves a way in which to advocate

Conclusion:

Like any representative body, the direction and vision is only as good as what the constituents/members vote for. So if you are interested in becoming a Congress member and/or voting for any of the below candidates in the upcoming elections please use the below buttons.

Election Information

• Membership Application

In the interests of fair representation, IndigenousX has reached out to all the candidates and invited them to write a short message to be included in this article. Below are the responses we have received at the time of publishing, and we will update with any additional responses we receive.

Rod Little

Hello all,

I’m Rod Little of the Yamaji and Nyoongar nations from Geraldton and Perth in Western Australia, now living in Canberra.

It has been a privilege to have been an inaugural elected Director of Congress since 2011. This experience, together with the support and encouragement of family, friends and colleagues has inspired me to embrace the challenge of this important leadership role.

My leadership experience has been strengthened through being an elected member of the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body since 2008, and Chairperson since 2011. While in this role I have helped bring about some significant local achievements including:

• In 2015, a successfully negotiated Whole of Government Agreement with the ACT government and a new Justice Partnership aimed at reducing the number of our people involved with the Justice system.
• Negotiated proposed amendments to the ACT Human Rights Act recognising Cultural Rights of our people inspired by the United Nations Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

I am a respected and respectful leader with a successful track record of working hard for and with my people. I am motivated by honesty and integrity and always listen to the views of others in order to achieve positive outcomes.
There are still many important matters requiring serious attention.

Rights: Should I be elected Co-chair, I will continue to pursue the implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the elimination of discrimination against our people in institutions, society and legislation. I will also pursue the advancement of Sovereignty and Treaty strategic conversations, nation building and the valued recognition of our cultures, languages, lands and waters. I will also maintain Congress’s strong international leadership.

Education: I am passionate about education success and have worked with some wonderful people in education, including on the development of Congress’s Education Policy. I would like to progress our Supporting Education Accountability Framework and see more of our own mob as teachers and principals to increase the likelihood of our children’s success.

Healthy and strong families and children are the key to our future. I will advocate for full inclusion of our people in policy development, decision making and services to support families to remain strong and to ensure health equity.

Economic wealth and growth: I aim to strengthen our relationship with our mob in businesses as they too are valuable and an important part of our future.

Justice: I will collaborate with our experts to strengthen our collective capacity to change the unacceptable status of over-representation of our people in the justice system.

Governance and leadership: I believe in Congress, and as a cohesive leadership group we will be best placed to build trusting relationships to lead and influence long lasting change for the benefit of future generations.

All of these aims can be pursued with respectful collaboration, shared ambitions and responsibility to our members, communities and experts. Unified we can intensify the accountability of governments and others for the achievement of a better future for our peoples.

Tauto Sansbury

I am a Narungga man born on Point Pearce Mission on SA’s Yorke Peninsula. With more than 30 years dedicated experience working and advocating for my people, and serving on many State and National bodies as chairperson and board member, I believe I have the skills, knowledge, experience and will to lead Congress in the right direction, connecting it to our people at the grassroots right across Australia.

I believe that I also have the necessary credentials to represent Congress, its members and all Indigenous Australians with dignity and credibility, at the Government and corporate level. I understand the needs and aspirations of Indigenous people. I speak the truth and speak from the heart, and put the interests and needs of my community before my own. I will continue to do so as Co-chair. I have much skill in raising our issues with the media, and have earned a high, positive profile Australia-wide. I am recognised for speaking and acting with honesty and integrity in my work for my community, from grass roots community members, to representing my people’s needs on the national stage.

We are at a major crossroads in the history of our Peoples; the role of Co-Chair is pivotal in uniting all Indigenous Australians to achieve our aims, and in growing and strengthening Congress’ membership so that it becomes a powerful agent for change. This is why I thought long and hard about nominating for Co-chair and why I eventually decided to do so. Congress faces many challenges; growing its credibility with our community across the country; ensuring that funding is used wisely for the benefit of the community and to achieve its aims, to name just two. With strong, experienced and committed leadership, Congress will be well placed to make a real difference. I look forward to working with you all in the future and to leading a fresh, new era for Congress.

Jackie Huggins

I am Jackie Huggins from the Bidjara (central Qld) and Birri Gubba Juru (north Qld) nations.

I have had many year’s experience working across Australia in community, government and non-government agencies. I am standing for Congress because I believe there is a dire need for good leadership at the national level in Aboriginal affairs. We need experienced leadership that will listen and be effective in our fast moving world. While some fine efforts have been made, much more needs to be done. There are so many priority areas to be considered. My priorities are not only around the lesser seen areas (until recently, that is) of domestic and family violence and disability but the inseparable health, education, housing, employment, cultural heritage, land, economic, law and justice issues and the effects of racism. How do we drive this? I am saying we have an opportunity to do it now.

Priority One:
To use the expertise present in our organisations and communities across the country, which I believe has never been fully utilised. Our culture is the base of good governance. These organisations do great work and know what the issues are on the ground.

Priority Two:
We need to set our own agenda and not be responding to crises and being reactive. In order to achieve this, Congress needs to be relevant. It needs to engage with its members to ensure a more representative voice. In doing so, the incredible information and stories around the country can be shared to give us hope and possibility.

Priority Three:
Congress should be providing strategic and strong leadership for all matters that affect us. To do this Congress needs to secure funding, effectively engage with governments, other agencies and stakeholders.

So Brothers and Sisters “Let’s Get Congress Working For Us”.

Charles Prouse

I am a Nyikina man from Derby WA. I’ve lived and worked around Australia in Indigenous affairs for more than 20 years and see the realities of the challenges our people face in carving out a better future for ourselves. I’ve helped develop ranger programs; written policy with the Australian government to see the growth of Indigenous businesses across the country; and worked with young people to see them through school and into job opportunities. All this I have done working with the Community and Government in senior and executive roles.

I have been a delegate of Congress for the past three years in Chamber three. I believe we need a change in the conversation, a new wave of unity. After five years of operation, Congress needs to grow and strengthen with the voices of our mob.

Our national voice (Congress) needs to be respected, sustainable and relevant.

The only way it’s going to do that is if it gains the increased support and trust of our community. We need more members and more organisations to support us. And we must support them in return. Respect is a two-way street.

Our national body must build stronger relationships with our key organisations such as the Land Councils, AMS’s, Education, Justice and key community organisations. I believe Congress should be helping to coordinate regular meetings of leaders of those organisations in order to share ideas, learnings and build united positions on a range of social justice and economic development issues to take to the State and Federal governments.

We must continue to fight for Land Justice, Economic Development and hold the highest standards of governance and leadership.

To find out more about me and what I stand for go to:

www.facebook.com/charlesprouseforcongress

www.charlesprouse.com

Katie Kiss

As a passionate Kaanju/Wiri Aboriginal Woman from North Queensland, who comes from a strong heritage of Aboriginal self-determination and resilience, I am also a proud member of the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples (Congress). I believe in our right to self-government, to develop, maintain and strengthen our own community controlled institutions, and our right to freely make decisions about issues that affect us.

We have had a number of institutions that have supported these rights including the NAC, the NACC and ATSIC, all of which served their purpose at a particular time in our political development. I believe that Congress is the next phase in this development towards our quest for self-determination. In order to stand united in our efforts, we need our own national institution that provides us with a vehicle to have the hard yarns, to make decisions about our futures, and that enables us to pursue our goals collectively. This is what I believe is the potential and purpose of Congress.

We know that Rome wasn’t built in a day. National representative organisations take time to build, both in terms of capacity and trust. This must occur with the support and active engagement of the communities they are established to represent, and at times this will include constructive criticism. Whether elected or not I will continue to support Congress by ensuring the integrity of the organisation through good governance; focusing on securing independent sources of funding; encouraging our people to join Congress and to contribute to policies and strategies that promote our collective aspirations of better outcomes across all determinants of political, legal, economic, social and cultural well-being, self-determining and long-term sustainable communities, community controlled organisations and nations; and to ensure that we, as the First Peoples of this country, are recognised and respected as such.

Amala Groom

I’m Amala Groom – a Wiradjuri woman from Sydney with a passion for our mob. I’ve been involved in domestic and international advocacy for Indigenous Peoples across grassroots, NGO, government and political sectors. I’m also an award winning conceptual artist and I’ve been on a number of Boards – including Congress, since February this year. Prior to that I was a Delegate in Chamber 3, and I’ve been a member of Congress since it started. I believe in a national representative body for our people and I believe in what Congress can be.

Like many members I’ve been frustrated with the leadership and decisions of Congress. Rather than criticise from outside, I chose to get involved and advocate for change within. Now as a Director I can see what is required to make Congress a meaningful organisation for our people, and a credible organisation for others to work with.

The key decision makers for Congress are the Co-Chairs. They are the public spokespersons and set the agenda for the organisation and Board. We need progressive people in these roles, which is why I am standing for the role of Co-Chair.

Congress needs Co-Chairs who can lead to organisation to work collaboratively across a range of areas with a variety of stakeholders including our members, our community controlled organisations, blakfulla non members, union movements, front line activist groups, sovereignty movements and the greater Australian public. We need to be guided by our Elders and energised by our youth in our walk towards Treaty.

As Co-Chair, my priorities will be directed towards financial sustainability; communication and engagement with members, member organisations and the broader Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community; advocacy for the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at national and international levels; improved governance including a review of the model and nation building.

Les Malezer

Congress needs good leaders. It needs experience. It needs abilities to operate at the highest levels of government and politics.

Many think they can do this but what can they show? They can say they take on government, but do they have the skills, the motivation and the experience?

Our community leadership want Congress to change the narrative, to stop being victims, to achieve peer relationships with government and law-makers. Congress is at the top of the pinnacle for our Peoples, to represent leaders, organisations and communities. Congress cannot afford to run with the herd, it must show the direction and inspire our people.

I do not boast my achievements. I rely upon my record to show that I deliver results. I have been strongly supported and encouraged in this role. Not everyone agrees with my strategies but I remain informed and guided by my wide contacts around Australia at all levels, in all regions and the many types of communities.

I regularly remind my colleagues that Congress must do more than just be there to fill a space; we must make real change. Real change does not come easily but I have the vision and tenacity to get that change. I thank those who continue to have faith in me. Congress needs strength, so use your votes to back the best for our top positions.

Carla McGrath

I am a proud 37-year-old Torres Strait Islander woman born and raised on the mainland. A daughter, sister and aunty, my professional roles have always reflected the interconnectedness of family and the need for progressive change for our people.

As Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, we have a significant opportunity to utilise our resilience, determination and history of innovation to shape entrepreneurialism, economic health and nationhood in our country.

As members of the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples, we have the ability and the responsibility to ensure Congress not only survives but thrives in becoming a national body that truly advocates for, and is representative of, our people.

At this point in its development, Congress requires leadership driven by a collective mindset and respectful engagement with a focus on strong relationships. The experience I have gained from local Government to leadership roles in national organisations provides for such collective leadership.

I feel privileged and humbled to have the opportunity to stand for female Co-chair of Congress, an opportunity that is only possible due to the resilience and determination of those who have come before. I am proud to do my utmost to continue that legacy and maintain its integrity as the next generation of advocates for our people take our stand.

I have engaged in the development of Congress since the consultation phase, attending local meetings and the national gathering in Adelaide in 2009. I have been a Delegate of Chamber 3 since 2011. Through this engagement I view the current priorities for Congress to be:

• Ensuring the financial sustainability of Congress to allow it to survive and thrive
• Reviewing and, where necessary, reforming the Congress model to maximise engagement and longevity
• Growing our membership
• Further establishing and formalising a broad community of support around Congress, its work and its membership
• Exploring and engaging in entrepreneurialism, economic health and nationhood opportunities for the benefit of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

Advocacy has been a strong feature of my personal and professional life to date. Along with my most recent professional roles in financial sustainability and relationship management this provides me the necessary skills to be Congress Co-chair at this critical juncture in its development.

I am committed to ensuring our people have a functioning, sustainable, influential voice at a national level in order to foster the safety, wellness and vitality of our people and communities. I will leverage the collective skills, networks and capacity available to me in order to make this happen.