The Jawoyn nation comprises 43 clan groups represented by JAAC  who are the recognised Traditional Owners of Nitmiluk National Park as well as the surrounding Beswick, Jawoyn and Manyallaluk Aboriginal land trusts which include the communities of Barunga, Wugularr and Manyallaluk and total over 55,000km². Today, only 18 clan groups have living descendants, including the Bagala Clan which also has its own LDM Agreement.

In 2018, JAAC signed the Jawoyn Association Aboriginal Corporation Local Decision Making Multi-Agency Partnership  PDF (201.2 KB) Agreement including the Implementation Plan 2018-20 PDF (1.3 MB) with the NT Government which has been highly successful in building strong relationships, expanding capacity for development and delivering improved outcomes for Jawoyn people.

Following completion of its first LDM Agreement, JAAC developed a second, LDM Agreement: Implementation Plan (2021-23). Under its second Agreement: Implementation Plan, JAAC has:

• supported the Werenbun Homeland to develop its own LDM Agreement;
• developed the capacity and secured the Contractor Accreditation Limited certification of Jawoyn Contracting;
• been awarded contracts for all new housing builds and Room to Breathe works in Barunga and Manyallaluk, and various demolition works; and.
• expanded its property portfolio in Katherine, using its own funds to purchase four dedicated spaces for JAAC teams and expand JAAC enterprises.

JAAC has recently purchased a new office space for the Banatjarl Strongbala Wimun Grup, with an official opening held on 20 October 2023 with key LDM partners.

On 10 May 2024, JAAC signed its third LDM Agreement: Implementation Plan (2024-26 PDF (1.8 MB)) making it the first organisation to do so under the LDM policy. The LDM Agreement: Implementation Plan 2024-26 has four strategic priorities – Pass on our Culture, Empower our People, Care for our Country, and Housing and Civil Construction Expansion. Key actions under JAAC’s current agreement include delivery of the Jawoyn Pipeline of Works, development of a prospectus for Barnjarn freehold land and delivery of the Jawoyn Cultural Awareness Course.

On 7 December 2022, the Bagala Traditional Owners signed the Bagala Traditional Owners Decision Making (TODM) Agreement 2022 – 2025 PDF (1.6 MB) as the recognised land owners for the Barunga and Wugularr communities.

The agreement was the first LDM Agreement signed with the Northern Land Council as a partner and is also supported by the NT Government, Roper Gulf Regional Council (RGRC), the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA), Jawoyn Association Aboriginal Corporation (JAAC) and Bagala Aboriginal Corporation (BAC).

The TODM Agreement has four strategic priority areas – Economic Development, Health and Community Wellbeing, Infrastructure and Housing, and Culture and Heritage.

A key action of the TODM Agreement was for BAC to resume management of the Barunga Festival, which returned to a community-led model in June 2023. The event was highly successful with BAC awarded the 2023 Northern Territory Chamber of Commerce award for Excellence in Business - Best Festival Event, and the 2023 Best Community Event Award at the Australian Event Awards.

By the end of 2023, BAC employed a General Manager, who is focused on growing BAC’s capacity and addressing key actions within the TODM Agreement.

In May 2024, BAC finalised its Strategic Plan to provide a clear vision and path forward for the organisation. The Strategic Plan was shared with key partners, with its completion marking another action finalised under the TODM Agreement.

In June 2024, another key action for the TODM Agreement was achieved with the formal establishment of the Barunga-Wugularr Law, Culture and Justice Committee. The Committee’s Local Action Plan was presented to and signed by the Hon Eva Lawler MLA, Chief Minister, and received $1M in operational funding over two years from the NT Government, a significant achievement for the Committee, both communities and the region.

Werenbun is a small Aboriginal homeland on Jawoyn traditional land owned by JAAC and located about 60km north of Katherine on the Edith Falls Access Road.

JAAC supported the development of the Werenbun Homeland Local Decision Making Agreement 2022-27 PDF (3.2 MB), signed on 24 January 2022 at Leliyn in Nitmiluk National Park.

This Agreement is supported by partners, the NT Government, NIAA, RGRC, JAAC, Sunrise Health Service Aboriginal Corporation, Wurli-Wurlinjang Health Service and Nitmiluk Tours.

The Agreement 2022-27 has four strategic priority areas – Economic Development, Health and Community Wellbeing, Infrastructure and Housing, and Culture and Heritage.

As at June 2024, three actions of the Agreement 2022-27 have been delivered, including installation of a basketball court and hoop, beautification of the Werenbun cemetery and transfer of Homelands service provision to JAAC.

The Gurindji Aboriginal Corporation (GAC) represents its Gurindji members to improve the social and economic wellbeing of Kalkaringi through enterprise, improved housing and facilities, local employment and preserving Gurindji culture and heritage.

In November 2018, GAC signed the Gurindji Aboriginal Corporation Local Decision Making Multi-Agency Partnership Agreement PDF (196.4 KB), including the Implementation Plan 2018-20 PDF (1.1 MB), with the NT Government and NIAA which saw large successes in capacity building for GAC and the Gurindji community, including infrastructure development and cultural preservation.

On 2 November 2021, GAC opened the Kalkaringi Child and Family Centre (Ngalywany Purrp’ku “Ours to Share”) and signed the Gurindji LDM Agreement: Implementation Plan 2021-23 PDF (3.6 MB), its second LDM agreement.

GAC has partnered with the NT Government and NIAA to deliver actions under the LDM Agreement: Implementation Plan 2021-23 across six strategic priority areas – Cultural Strength and Respect, Business Development and Contracting, Youth Services and Child and Family, Community Housing, Local Jobs and Training, and Community Recreation Facilities.

Progress on the LDM Agreement: Implementation Plan 2021-23 has been slower than anticipated due to leadership changes in GAC and flooding in the region in early 2023 and early 2024 which impacted Kalkaringi and nearby communities. The flood response and recovery process including repair of damaged assets has been a priority of GAC.

CM&C Big Rivers is continuing to support GAC as an entity and in its priority setting to inform the renewal of its LDM Agreement: Implementation Plan.

The Yugul Mangi Development Aboriginal Corporation (YMDAC) coordinates and funds initiatives and projects, and works with the NT Government and NIAA to improve life in the community of Ngukurr and its surrounds.

YMDAC made history by signing the first LDM Agreement in the NT. Signed in May 2018, the Yugul Mangi Development Aboriginal Corporation Multi-Agency Partnership PDF (216.3 KB) also included the Implementation Plan 2018-20 PDF (1.5 MB).

On 25 August 2021, the YMDAC Local Decision Making Agreement: Implementation Plan 2021-23 PDF (6.6 MB) was signed with the NT Government and NIAA as partners. The signing day was also used as the official opening of the LDM Board Room and Office in Ngukurr.

The Agreement: Implementation Plan 2021-23 delivered across a range of actions, including renewing the Mutual Respect Agreement with Northern Territory Police, assuming management of the Ngukurr Oval and its upgrades, and sealing between the Roper River and Wilton River bridges on the Roper Highway.

On 28 June 2024, YMDAC signed its third LDM Agreement: Implementation Plan 2024-26 PDF (1.2 MB) in Ngukurr with partners from the NT Government, NIAA and RGRC. YMDAC’s LDM Agreement: Implementation Plan 2024-26 has five strategic priority areas – Cultural Strength and Respect, Governance and Capacity, Community Wellbeing, Economic Empowerment, and Local Jobs for Local People. Key actions under YMDAC’s current agreement include development of a Cultural Protocol and Awareness Course, establishment of a Law and Justice Group, and construction of the Ngukurr Boat Ramp Project.

CM&C Big Rivers has worked closely with the Numburindi Development Aboriginal Corporation (NDAC) since 2021 to complete necessary pre-establishment actions and capacity building activities in preparation for development and signing of an LDM Agreement. This support included funding to complete identified actions such as development of a Business Plan, corporate capacity building and governance training for NDAC Board of Directors. During this period and continuing, NDAC has also been supported by YMDAC as an established organisation and LDM partner to assist its capacity building.

Having completed identified actions, NDAC met with potential LDM partners in Katherine in December 2023 to discuss proposed actions for an LDM Agreement. Over the following six months, NDAC utilised its Business Plan and proposed actions to work with partners to develop a draft LDM Agreement: Implementation Plan for feedback. Following incorporation of feedback and approval from partners, the NT Government, NIAA and RGRC, NDAC finalised its first LDM Agreement: Implementation Plan 2024-26. PDF (1.5 MB)

Signed 5 July 2024, the NDAC LDM Agreement: Implementation Plan 2024-26 contains four key strategic priorities – Cultural Governance and Social Wellbeing, Community Development, Economic Enterprise, and Local Jobs for Local People. Key actions under NDAC’s first Agreement: Implementation Plan include identifying further training and development opportunities for NDAC Directors, implementing a workforce development plan relevant to organisational needs, and continuation of the Indigenous Youth Connection to Culture program.

Throughout 2023, CM&C Big Rivers worked closely with the Urapunga Aboriginal Corporation (UAC) to provide support for completion of necessary pre-establishment actions to aid UAC in its aspiration of developing and signing an LDM Agreement. Funding was provided to support key activities including development of UAC’s Strategic Plan, with CM&C Big Rivers providing feedback on the Strategic Plan and supporting UAC to liaise with potential LDM partners for their input on this key guiding document.

Following its Strategic Plan finalisation in 2024, the UAC Board of Directors engaged with potential LDM partners to develop its LDM Agreement: Implementation Plan 2024-27. PDF (1.9 MB) Following feedback and approval from partners, UAC signed its LDM Agreement: Implementation Plan 2024-27 on 10 July 2024, in Urapunga.

The LDM Agreement: Implementation Plan contains four strategic priorities – Economic Development, Health Cultural and Community Wellbeing, Infrastructure and Assets, and Organisation Governance and Sustainability. Key actions within the Agreement: Implementation Plan include utilising the Op Shop to provide young people employment and training opportunities, developing a community plan for Urapunga, and reviewing and renewing lease arrangements on all buildings within Urapunga.