World Vision partners with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, local governments and other non-governmental organisations to strengthen Indigenous leadership in both remote and urban areas of Australia. Many government agencies and other organisations interact with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities on a daily basis. In this environment, decision-making is highly complex. Developing effective governance systems in Indigenous communities is vital to ensuring that people's needs and aspirations can be realised.

Governance relates to issues including:

• How a community makes decisions
• Who holds authority and responsibility 
• How disputes are resolved 
• How a community's priorities and plans are translated into action 
• How a community interacts with external organisations

To achieve effective governance, many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities require skills, tools and effective leadership to bring together diverse interests and negotiate political pressures in ways that improve the wellbeing of all community members.

Leadership is especially important, because good leaders inspire people to work together to achieve community objectives. Good leaders can also be effective advocates for their communities in dealings with governments and other external organisations.

In the Northern Territory, World Vision has worked with the Wutunugurra community on a Leadership and Governance Project. This project considered the various layers and aspects of governance in the community and worked to improve how they function.

The Governance and Leadership Project (2006-2009) aimed to increase control over how financial and natural resources are allocated in Wutunugurra. World Vision Australia worked with the community to reinvigorate the Wetenngerr Aboriginal Corporation (WAC) and develop a culturally appropriate constitution.

In 2007 a new constitution was developed and ‘council’ members were elected. After this project’s completion, World Vision responded to community requests and began working with local emerging artists.

Our Sydney-based Young Mob program also aims to train and support individual Indigenous leaders. By focusing on governance and leadership, World Vision aims to improve the wellbeing of Indigenous families by increasing their involvement in and control over decisions that affect their lives.

To read more about the Epenarra Artists click here.

To learn more about Young Mob program click here.