Governance and leadership

Governance and Leadership icon

Strengthening leadership and taking responsibility.

Governments are working with Indigenous people to:

  • support the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples
  • encourage people to vote in elections
  • make sure Indigenous organisations are well run
  • train leaders and encourage strong leadership in communities
  • build better relationships with Indigenous communities
  • provide government people to help in many remote communities
  • support Indigenous strengths and ideas
  • encourage personal responsibility as the way to healthy and prosperous families and communities.

Self-determination and leadership

Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre graduates, 2011, Canberra, ACT. Photo: Chris Canham.

Stolen Generations leadership graduates (see details of graduates below article). Photo: Chris Carnham.

Thousands of new leaders are expected to realise their potential with the help of a national training centre founded by Indigenous people.

Ten years ago, two Indigenous leaders, Joe Ross (Willigan) and Russell Taylor, founded the Canberra-based Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre, with Mick Dodson as chairman of the board.    view full story


Published: 2 March 2011
< Previous
Next >

Find out more

Governance and Leadership form one of the building blocks in the Closing the Gap strategy, agreed by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG). It recognises that Indigenous people, organisations and communities need the capacity to shape their own futures.

The Australian Government has supported the establishment of a new representative body, the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples,External site link to help represent Indigenous issues to government.

Indigenous women, men and young people can access leadership development programs through the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. Leadership training and capacity building are also an important part of the National Partnership Agreement on Remote Service Delivery.

In December 2010 the Australian Government appointed an expert panel of Indigenous and community leaders, constitutional experts and parliamentary members to advise it on how best to recognise Indigenous Australians in Australia’s Constitution. The Government is now considering the panel’s recommendations before determining the best way forward. For more information visit the You Me UnityExternal site link website.

The Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations supports capacity building for Indigenous corporations and Reconciliation Australia, with BHP Billiton, sponsors the annual Indigenous Governance Awards. External site link

For more information on Indigenous leadership, go to:

View all archived articles
Normal      Mobile