Central Australia
The Central Australia region is the geographical centre of Australia and desert land covers 600,000 km2 and 40% of the NT. Alice Springs, the second largest town in the NT, with a population of roughly 28,000, services a total regional population of 41,000.
A large percentage of the Central Australia region’s population live in outlying communities. This includes the Yulara township, which provides accommodation and services for the tourism industry at Uluru–Kata Tjuta National Park.
Yulara's population of just over 1,000 people is increased by visitor numbers to around 300,000 each year.
Other major remote centres in the Central Australia region include Ntaria, Yuendumu and Papunya, with the rest of the population widely spread across the region in smaller communities, outstations, pastoral properties and mining operations.
These residents depend on Alice Springs for supplies and essential services.
Download Northern Territory Government regions map with place names PDF (410.7 KB)
Alice Springs Town Camps
The Alice Springs Town Camps LDM Heads of Agreement was signed on 28 July 2020 by Tangentyere Council Aboriginal Corporation on behalf of the Town Campers, and the Chief Minister on behalf of the NT Government.
LDM Heads of Agreement documentation PDF (3.8 MB) includes
Schedule 1. Community information, key contacts, dates, and agreement processes PDF (385.6 KB);
Schedule 2. Agreed LDM Priorities PDF (103.3 KB); and
Schedule 3.1 Shelter and Housing PDF (241.1 KB).
The Agreement outlines the seven priority areas known as Wellness Domains identified by the Alice Springs Town Campers that will articulate the full scope of areas to be transitioned to community control.
The first of these, Shelter and Housing, forms Schedule 3.1 of the Agreement and includes a transition timeframe.
Tangentyere Council Aboriginal Corporation is undertaking extensive research with Town Campers to develop the detail for the remaining six Wellness Domains. As these are articulated the relevant NT Government agencies are engaging and forming strong partnerships with Tangentyere Council.
- LDM Commitment Agreement signed on 4 July 2019.
- The Agreement outlines how the parties will work towards a LDM Heads of Agreement.
- TCAC LDM Commitment Agreement PDF (3.6 MB)
Mutitjulu Community Aboriginal Corporation (MCAC)
- Mutitjulu and Yulara Futures Planning is continuing to map out the long term vision and framework for the region and provide a guide to investment and development. This process will dovetail with the development of LDM in Mutitjulu.
Other LDM initiatives (across Central Australia region)
- The Department of Health is in the process of transitioning the Yulara Health Clinic to community control.
- The Department of the Chief Minister and Cabinet continues to meet with all 26 remote communities in the region to talk about LDM There is ongoing active engagement with Papunya, Santa Teresa, Hermannsburg and Yuendumu.
- Yuelamu community members identified the need for a keeping place for men's business and repatriation of artefacts in community. The Department of Chief Minister and Cabinet have been working with the community members to enable to construction of the keeping place by the community, through the LDM principles.
Lhere Artepe Aboriginal Corporation (LAAC)
- An LDM Agreement is in development between LAAC and the NT Government. The Agreement outlines a range of actions to progress social and economic development opportunities. Identified areas of priority include capacity building, education and training, employment and enterprise development, housing, and recognition of ties to traditional country.
Ngurratjuta Pmara Ntjarra Aboriginal Corporation (Ngurratjuta)
Ngurratjuta Pmara Ntjarra Aboriginal Corporation - Statement of Commitment PDF (2.3 MB)
On 29 June 2023, a Local Decision Making Statement of Commitment was signed between Ngurratjuta Pmara Ntjarra Aboriginal Corporation (Ngurratjuta), the Northern Territory Government and the National Indigenous Australians Agency for the communities and homeland within the Ngurratjuta region. The statement of commitment outlines initial target service delivery areas which includes:
- Housing tenancy, maintenance, constructions and government employee housing
- Homelands municipal and essential services, housing maintenance services and special purpose grants
- Remote jobs, industry and employment/training programs
- Education attendance, two-way learning and pathways
- Social disability and welfare
- Community and economic development
- Youth and families
The Department of Chief Minister and Cabinet are working with Ngurratjuta on the drafting of a Local Decision Making Agreement.
Videos
Local Decision Making - Wadeye
Local Decision Making - Wadeye
Local Decision Making - Wadeye
A long time ago the government built our houses.
Cornellius Wudarnkadi Mollinjin.
Thamarur Development Corporation, Wadeye, Northern Territory.
The houses that they built were made without our advice. This meant, they were not built to suit our lifestyle and culture.
We also had less people, now our families have grown, and we are still living in the same houses, overcrowded and sometimes breaking out strong cultural laws. Room to Breathe, is a part of governments Local Decision Making policy.
This will help us work together with the houses we have now. It is us that will help make the decisions because every home has different needs. It is important that we are included in decision making for our future.
Proudly supported by the Northern Territory Government
Thamarrurr Development Corporation
Jabiru Memorandum of Understanding news
Jabiru Memorandum of Understanding news
Jabiru Memorandum of Understanding news
If you require a transcript for the Jabiru Memorandum of Understanding news video please contact us.
Local Decision Making - Gunbalanya School
Local Decision Making - Gunbalanya School
Local Decision Making - Gunbalanya School
We have been on a journey to create an Independent Public School. First we had to choose consultants with the right heart to guide us in developing the new governance model with a new constitution and all the important things for us to be a proper board. Karrikarremarbun means coming together to make big decisions this is what the board does.
We took the community with us on this journey we did lots of talking and workshops with the school and community so that everyone understood where we wanted to go. We took turtle steps, this part of our journey took a year.
In the best interests of our students we decided that our board should come from across the community not just from family groups or clans. This was a big change in our thinking and ways. The more the community understood the more people wanted to be involved. 31 parents nominated for the 8 parent positions a record for Northern Territory schools.
People were elected on to the board through a proper process with the Northern Territory Electoral Commission coming out to run a proper ballot. The board wanted to have two senior students on the board so that they could learn board ways and grow strong leaders for our future.
Developing our 5 year Business plan has been one of the strongest ways we have made big decisions about our school and students future. We thought deeply about community and family matters affect our students. We decided on goals and strategies that would best serve the needs of our students.
Waralnang means, I saw in a vision, our Waralnang Business plan is the Board’s vision for our community, school and students future. At Board meetings the Principal and staff report back to us on how our plan is going, we have had to learn many new things travelling this journey like running meetings, liaising in the community, working with parents and we have had lots of training with our consultants a big one has been Money Story.
We have had some challenges like understanding Balanda words, concepts, policy and ways of governing. We keep our own culture strong and often talk in language to make sure we all understand to make the right decisions. The board has been going for 18 months now and we are still going on a two way learning journey.
Like I was saying, Karrimurrngrayekworren means working together we are making everyone strong, our turtle steps are leading towards a strong community school and a greater future for our children.
Groote Eylandt Traditional Owners Mining Venture
Groote Eylandt Traditional Owners Mining Venture
Groote Eylandt Traditional Owners Mining Venture
If you require a transcript for the Groote Eylandt Traditional Owners Mining Venture video please contact us.
New local Health Service for Gapuwiyak Community
New local Health Service for Gapuwiyak Community
New local Health Service for Gapuwiyak Community
If you require a transcript for the New local Health Service for Gapuwiyak Community video please contact us.
Titjikala Room to Breathe Program news
Titjikala Room to Breathe Program news
Titjikala Room to Breathe Program news
If you require a transcript for the Titjikala Room to Breathe Program news video please contact us.
Local Decision Making - Vision
Local Decision Making - Vision
Local Decision Making - Vision
Vision - Bo Carne
Local Decision Making will lead to the self-determination of communities in regards to services and programs.
But more broadly than this is an opportunity for community and government partnerships for shared responsibility of service delivery.
Things might include housing, education, economic development or land and sea management, depending on community priorities.
Local Decision Making acknowledges that although government might have the best intentions, we don’t always get it right.
This is about getting the best solutions using a place-based approach, that is, local solutions for local issues.
Local Decision Making - Roadmap
Local Decision Making - Roadmap
Local Decision Making - Roadmap
Road Map / Principles versus Policy - Bo Carne
We’ve also designed a Road Map that incorporates success of existing government programs, and a staged approach where communities might identify a number of government programs.
All government agencies should be following the principles of Local Decision Making in any work they do in communities, which includes:
‘Self-determination’ – community process and timelines,
‘Place-based’ – different design for different places,
‘Flexible’ – timing and funding,
‘Co-design’ – share information to design together, and
‘Community control’ – committed wherever possible.
Local Decision Making - Implementation
Local Decision Making - Implementation
Local Decision Making - Implementation
Implementation - Bo Carne
The Community Control Continuum shows the different levels of community involvement.
‘Inform’ is where government takes the lead in decisions and implementation;
‘Consult’ has some form of community input, but government still leads;
‘Involve’ is a partnership through a community advisory group, but government is still responsible to lead;
‘Collaborate’ then becomes community-led and co-designed, but government might still own the service;
‘Empower’ is when the service is community controlled, but government is still there to support.
Communities will need all the information to help determine how far they might want to progress along the continuum.
Local Decision Making introduction - John Paterson
Local Decision Making introduction - John Paterson
Local Decision Making introduction - John Paterson
John Paterson – Chair APO NT and CEO AMSANT
Aboriginal people have always known what best for their communities and by working with the NT Government’s Local Decision Making Policy collectively they can come up with the best solutions that are suited for their communities.
The Aboriginal Peak Organisations NT which comprises of NLC, CLC, and AMSANT work closely with our communities and constituents to assist them in finding solutions and working through their issues. This is why APO NT works closely with the Northern Territory Government and the Local Decision Making policy to ensure that we all collectively get the best results for communities.
The Northern Territory Local Decision Making Policy is a positive step in the right direction. It allows for communities to negotiate with government to address issues like housing, education, workforce, employment and other important issues that are affecting Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory.
Local Decision Making will be different in each community and region and governments needs to have flexible frameworks to enable communities to address their needs.
Everyone Together 2019-2029 - Aboriginal Affairs Strategy
Everyone Together 2019-2029 - Aboriginal Affairs Strategy
Everyone Together 2019-2029 - Aboriginal Affairs Strategy
Mischa Cartwright, AASP
Hi, I’m Mischa Cartwright, Executive Director, Aboriginal Affairs Strategic Partnerships.
The Northern Territory Government is focused on reshaping how it engages with Aboriginal people and remote communities through the development of the Northern Territory Aboriginal Affairs Strategy.
The Strategy recognises the importance of language, culture and connection to country. It sets about bringing together Government’s Aboriginal Affairs existing priorities, ensuring they align with the aspirations of Aboriginal people and communities now and into the future.
It aims to support community-led decision making focused on Aboriginal families, children and communities through strong leadership, governance and capacity building that enables Aboriginal people to drive local solutions through local decision making.
Burarra
Burarra
Kriol
Kunwinjku
Kunwinjku
Murrinh Patha
Murrinh Patha
Tiwi
Anmatyerr
Anmatyerr
Eastern/Central Arrernte
Eastern/Central Arrernte
Eastern/Central Arrernte
If you require a transcript for the Eastern/Central Arrernte video please contact us.
Pitjantjatjara
Pitjantjatjara
Warlpiri
Warlpiri
Alyawarr
Alyawarr
Warumungu
Warumungu
Kriol
Ngarinyman
Ngarinyman
Anindilawakya