NGALAYNGMANG To talk together - Sharing our story
December 2023 Edition
NGALAYNGMANG
December 2023 Edition
To talk together - Sharing our story
Celebrating Triumph for Nitmiluk at the Brolga Awards 2023 We are thrilled to announce our recent win at the 2023 Brolga Awards in the Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services category This recognition holds significance not just for our establishment but for the entire Katherine region in the NT, as well as our indigenous communities. Upon winning this year's Brolga’s, we gain automatic entry into the Australian Tourism Awards, the highest level of recognition for Tourism and Hospitality in Australia. In March next year the awards will be hosted in Darwin, which represents a huge opportunity to be recognised at the national level in our own backyard. Details to follow.
A word from the Chair - Lisa Mumbin I want to take this opportunity to celebrate all of this years hard work and success across all of the Jawoyn business, enterprises and communities. This year, we reached a historic milestone that resonates deeply with our vision. I am delighted to announce that, for the first time in our organisation's history, Jawoyn now employs more Aboriginal people than ever before. This achievement is a testament to our collective commitment to fostering a workplace that not only honours our culture and enguages our community, but also empowers our vision. Let us reflect on the journey we have undertaken together and the positive impact we have made in the lives of our community members. May the spirit of unity and progress continue to guide us into the new year. I wish to pass on the best wishes and thank you to all on behalf of myself and our wonderful Board of Directors and hope that each and everyone of you have a pleasant, safe, happy Christmas and festive season and look forward to an amazing year working with you all in 2024. Your hard work and commitment does not go unnoticed, so enjoy your well-earned break over Christmas and New Year! -Lisa Mumbin
NGALAYNGMANG
December 2023 Edition
To talk together - Sharing our story
CEO Report Dear Jawoyn Association Community, As we approach the close of an eventful year, I am delighted to share an overview of our collective achievements and ongoing initiatives. Operational milestones abound, across all Jawoyn entities, remarkable growth has been witnessed, with staff numbers reaching around 270, over 70% of whom are Indigenous employees. Exciting plans are in the works for collaborations with communities, the NT government, and other stakeholders in the coming year. A significant operational shift occurred as our finance department transitioned in-house, aligning with our new status as a united group of companies. This consortium includes Jawoyn Contracting and Civil, Nitmiluk Tours, Leliyn, JAAC, and subsidiaries. Looking forward, our team is actively involved in crafting a robust 10-year strategic plan, expected to be finalised in the upcoming New Year. In the realm of growth, we took on the management and support of five homelands from the Departments of Infrastructure Planning and Logistics, solidifying our role as stewards for housing maintenance, municipal, and essential services to NT homelands and town camps. In terms of construction contracts and capabilities, we've commenced work on a contract from NTG to build a duplex community housing project at Manyallaluk, anticipating it to be the beginning of more substantial projects. With the capacity to handle $3 million civil construction projects, we aspire to expand our footprint in this sector.
In alignment with our commitment to Local Decision Making, we've collaborated closely with NTG and their departments to secure these contracts, as well as tenancy management for Barunga, Wugulaar, and Manyallaluk, thereby directly employing local staff. Notably, we successfully completed the Nitmiluk Indigenous housing project, with three houses now contributing to community development. In the tourism space, we’ve continued to evolve with three new boats added to Nitmiluk Tours and a fourth currently in development for a new beaut dinner cruise experience. Our ranger program remains active, focusing on developing the Healthy Country Plan for the next five years, among other ventures. The BSWG has acquired its own space in Third Street, where the group is immersed in various exciting projects. Cultural preservation takes centre stage as we embark on the development of a language app, guided by the wisdom of our Elders. As we navigate the challenges and triumphs of this year, my sincere gratitude goes out to all our managers and staff for their unwavering dedication. I wish each of you a safe and joyous Christmas and look forward to exciting times and continued growth in the coming year.
John Berto, CEO December, 2023
NGALAYNGMANG
December 2023 Edition
To talk together - Sharing our story
Jawoyn Rangers and Mangarrayi Rangers Jawoyn Rangers had a busy 2023 with a strong focus on fire with prescribed burning in the early dry season. We did aerial and ground burning across all Jawoyn Country for the WALFA and Jawoyn Fire Projects. These projects bring in carbon credit income into Jawoyn Association. We also did burning around the towns for the ‘Vacant Crown Lands’ contract at Katherine, Pine Creek, Timber Creek, Borroloola. "As part of our fire projects, we also attended the North Australia Savanna Fire Forum in February this year. The ALFA pre-season fire camp at Barrapunta, hosted by Mimal Rangers; and the ALFA end of season fire camp at Gulkula in Nhulunbuy, hosted by Laynhapuy Homelands" Jawoyn Rangers have attended many workshops and conferences this year – we are a part of the Arnhem Stone Country Project with other ranger groups from across Arnhem Land and we are working together to do cultural natural resource management across the stone country landscape. We also attended the Territory Natural Resource Management annual conference and joined workshops as part of that. Jawoyn Rangers have been doing rock art and sacred site surveys and protecting these sites from fire and feral animals. Jawoyn rangers also employed three new ngalmuka/women rangers and two mungguy/men rangers so we now have the full team again.
Jawoyn and Mangarrayi Rangers ran culture camps throughout the year. The Mangarrayi Rangers had a very busy year developing their Healthy Country Plan. This involved running several camps and community meetings to hear from Traditional Owners about the aspirations to manage land and freshwater across Mangarrayi lands. These camps and meetings were a chance for Mangarrayi Elders and community members to get together and talk about the cultural and environmental values and threats to those values they want managed by rangers. Both ranger teams recently met to review the 2023 year of work and talked about the highlights of the year, including fire work, patrolling Jawoyn Country, rock art, running culture camps, finding new women rangers, mentoring the rangers and new rangers, learning from other ranger groups during ranger exchanges, and setting up the Mangarrayi Ranger Base at the Meat Works site. In 2024, the rangers are committed to growing the ranger team, doing more projects from the Healthy Country Plan, continue with training for certificates, following safety procedures and maintaining vehicles and equipment. The ranger team is the biggest it has ever been and there are big plans for 2024, so a big congratulations to all involved and looking forward to the monsoon season and the new year.
NGALAYNGMANG
December 2023 Edition
To talk together - Sharing our story
Banartjarl Strongbala Wimuns Grup "A great opening of a dedicated space for our formidable and tireless group" Stepping Up & Stepping Forward: In 2023, Banartjarl Strongbala Wimun Grup (BSWG) marked a significant milestone with the grand opening of our new office, attended by gathering of 160 participants. The BSWG team has been on an upward trajectory, expanding both in numbers and confidence. Under strong leadership, we are implementing culturally led and innovative programs, fostering an environment of learning, leadership, and positive change. Strong Cultural Governance and Leadership: The BSWG team travelled extensively to present and showcase our impactful work, culminating in a standing ovation at the Lowitja International Indigenous Wellbeing Conference, where both BSWG and the Mungguy Mans Grup left an indelible mark. Nitmiluk Gift Shop - Youth Shine: From April to October, we successfully operated the Nitmiluk Gift Shop, contributing to youth empowerment. To address barriers hindering our youth from obtaining jobs, we purchased a car for transportation and provided mentorship through Suzie, Team Leaders, and Elders. The shop, filled with locally made items, served as a platform to share the cultural story of the BSWG. Ngalmuka Healing: Our commitment to domestic violence prevention was evident through the Ngalmuka Healing program, empowering women through on-country activities such as weaving and pandanus collection. Consultation meetings were pivotal in giving women a voice and encouraging impactful changes within our communities.
Community Engagement Space: BSWG extended its reach through a 6-week space at Woolworths shopping centre in Katherine, creating a positive environment for community engagement. This initiative provided a space for meaningful conversations, showcased our work, and allowed us to connect with individuals eager to learn and support our cause. Interviews with media during this period highlighted our vision for positive impact in communities. Women's Health Forum: In a groundbreaking move, BSWG secured funding for our first Women's Health Forum after a year of community consultations. The event's focus resonated with women from various regions in the Northern Territory, with plans to expand our reach further next year. Country is Medicine - Family Support Funding: Under the leadership of Andrea Andrews and the dedicated efforts of BSWG supported 45 families this year. A notable achievement highlighted by ABC News is that our region stands as the only one in the Northern Territory where children are returning from care to their families, aligning with the vision of BSWG. Collaboration with Mungguy Mans Grup continues to strengthen our impact.
NGALAYNGMANG
December 2023 Edition
To talk together - Sharing our story
Nitmiluk Tours 'As Nitmiluk Tours approaches the end of another incredible year, it’s time to reflect on the achievements, challenges, and growth we have experienced together as a team. From exciting projects and innovative solutions to personal milestones and teamwork triumphs, the last 6 months have been truly remarkable'
Achievements: It is with great pride that Nitmiluk Tours has been honoured with the prestigious Brolga Award for our outstanding contributions to the Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services category. This award serves as a testament to our unwavering commitment to excellence and our ongoing efforts to deliver the highest quality services in the industry. Project Highlights: We are excited to announce that we have recently completed a comprehensive upgrade of our booking software. The new system is called RMS, this advanced system brings a host of enhanced features and functionalities to improve guest booking experience. Guests can now make the payment directly through our website, eliminating the need for customers to call or visit our visitor centre for payments. Guests can also now secure their preferred dining experience online with just a few simple steps. We have now introduced complimentary guest Wi-Fi access in our Cicada Lodge, Campground, Cabins, and Visitor Center. This exciting addition will provide our valued guests with the convenience of staying connected while enjoying our facilities. We have invested a significant amount of money across our campground area and landscaping around Cicada Lodge. The pending opening of the poolside kiosk will be a welcome addition to our interstate and international guests and the Katherine community. An overhaul of our reticulation has meant we will be able to achieve green grounds year-round.
New Clients and Partnerships: We expanded our client base and forged valuable partnerships with industry leaders, solidifying our position as a trusted and sought-after service provider. These new collaborations have opened doors to exciting opportunities for growth and development. We are hosting a spectacular Christmas party for the RAAF Base at our visitor centre. This festive event is specially organised to accommodate a total of 203 guests. Our team is dedicated to ensuring a memorable and enjoyable experience for all attendees. As a part of experimental initiatives, we recently organised a sunrise wellness cruise that featured yoga sessions and a delicious breakfast on the boat. Moreover, we are actively promoting indigenous employment and prioritising training. In addition to this, we also organising cultural tours in collaboration with Banatjarl Strongbala Wimun Grup wherever possible.
NGALAYNGMANG
December 2023 Edition
To talk together - Sharing our story
Jawoyn Contracting
Local Decision Making: Enabling Jawoyn housing to be built and managed by Jawoyn, for Jawoyn. Jawoyn Association is excited to share we have recently been awarded a period contract for new housing builds and Room to Breathe works taking place in Jawoyn communities Manyallaluk and Barunga over the next 2 years. Works will commence with the delivery of a 2x2 duplex in Manyallaluk. This work is made possible through our partnership with the Northern Territory Government under our Local Decision Making Agreement. Over the past 5 years, we have worked closely with the Northern Territory Government to further develop the capacity of Jawoyn Association and our enterprise, Jawoyn Contracting. In 2021, we were awarded the housing Repairs and Maintenance, and Tenancy Management contracts for Barunga, Wugularr (Beswick) and Manyallaluk, which directly employ local staff who engage with community and ensure a high level of service delivery.
This support and our most recent contract provide us with a pipeline of works enabling Jawoyn to expand and upskill our workforce, creating more opportunities for local employment. There is plenty to be excited about in the future of Jawoyn Association including the purchase of our new Jawoyn Contracting civil works yard and expansion of our home office to accommodate additional capacity. Jawoyn Contracting has been engaged by Kalano Community Association Inc to deliver an additional estimated $2M in contracts over the next 6 months for works in the Rockhole and Miali Brumby communities. Jawoyn Association would like to extend our appreciation to our Local Decision Making partners, in particular the Northern Territory Government and their NT Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics, Department of Territory Families, Territory Families, Housing and Communities, and Department of the Chief Minister and Cabinet who work closely with us to enable these great outcomes. Without our Local Decision Making Agreement these outcomes would not be possible.
NGALAYNGMANG
December 2023 Edition
To talk together - Sharing our story
Beagle Hotel - Sharing the success of a fantastic year As we approach the close of a remarkable year, we are thrilled to share some significant achievements and exciting developments that underscore the dedication and hard work of our exceptional team. First and foremost, we're delighted to announce that Beagle Hotel has secured a catering contract for the upcoming summer season. This success speaks volumes about our culinary team and unwavering commitment to delivering outstanding services. I'm pleased to announce the completion of the muchanticipated kitchen upgrades. The installation of new benches, shelves, and cupboards enhances our kitchen's functionality, equipping our culinary team to continue delivering top-notch dining experiences. We are pleased to to inform you of our recent addition to the Gold List for Star-Rated properties in the Northern Territories motel category. By making it to the Gold List, our business has demonstrated our commitment to consistently exceeding our guest’s expectations. In the early part of the new year, we eagerly look forward to enhancing the hotel with renovations to our Family and Disability rooms. These improvements are aimed at providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all our guests.
Nicole and Sam would like to thank all of our Beagle Hotel Team and the Jawoyn family for their warm welcome to us and our family to Katherine. Our family would like to wish everyone and their families a very Merry Christmas and a great New Year. Nicole O'Farrell, Beagle Hotel Manager