ANNUAL REPORT 2017 – 2018 CONTENTS FROM THE CHAIR 2 FROM THE CEO 4 PRIMARY HEALTH 6 TALKING WITH THE TEAM: SALOME HARRIS 11 LAW, GOVERNANCE & ECONOMICS 13 TALKING WITH THE TEAM: GAWURA WANAMBI (GAMARRA|) 15 SOCIAL & SUPPORT SERVICES 16 TALKING WITH THE TEAM: MATT WRIGLEY 19 COMMERCIAL CONTRACTS 20 TALKING WITH THE TEAM: JANOS KEREKES 22 LANGUAGE & CULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY 23 RADIO AND CREATIVE MEDIA 26 YOL|U RADIO FREQUENCIES 2018 31 SUPPORTERS, DONORS AND SPONSORS 31 OUT 'N' ABOUT IN 2017-2018 32 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 34 SONG DANCE & CEREMONY Ŋilimurr yolŋu nhina yukurra dhärukmirr, ga bäpurru'mirr, ga rommirr, gakal'mirr, djuŋunymirr. Dhuwali ŋilimurruŋ dhuwal däpthun marrtji, ga ŋilimurr dhuwal yolŋu balanya nhakun ŋilimurr yurru djäma nhä malanynha milkum ŋunha bala ŋäpakiw walalaŋ barrkumal, galkimal ga dhiyal bäyma through nhäkurr malanyŋukurr? Manikaykurr. Buŋgulkurr. Bilmakurr. Ga wiripu rom malanynha ŋilimurruŋ dhuwali gandawyun marrtji ŋunhi ŋilimurr ŋuli goŋ-wirrkithirr djäma marrtji. Ŋunhiyinhdhi warrpam marrtji yukurra djunama dhäruklil. Dhäruktja dhuwal ŋilimurruŋ, yaka ŋayi barrku, dhäruktja dhuwal ŋilimurruŋgal galki. Bili ŋilimurr yurru waŋany yolŋunhany dhiyaŋ ga dhärukthu. We Yolŋu are still living here with our languages, our clans, our law, our character and our culture. We continue these unbroken traditions. How do we share our way of life with ABOUT ARDS non-Indigenous people – near and far? Through song. Through dance. Through ceremony. There are consequences if we corrupt these traditions. Our languages contain all of that We are an Indigenous Corporation and have worked with Indigenous knowledge. Our languages are not irrelevant. We are intimately connected with our languages, because as human beings we use words to talk together. We hold our languages communities in the NT for over 40 years. Our skilled cultural and close and ready. language consultants are uniquely placed to listen to Indigenous voices, Language: Djapu understand their aspirations and the challenges they experience. *Moiety – The physical and social universe of Yolŋu people are divided into two moieties (or halves) everything within the Our vision is for Indigenous people to be able to engage on equal terms physical environment (including each particular species of flora and fauna, land and water) and cultural environment (songs, with the wider Australian society, its organisations and systems. designs, material objects, symbols of law etc.) is either Dhuwa or Yirritja. In addition each bäpurru and riŋgitj, and their respective membership, are classified as being either Dhuwa or Yirritja. A person belongs to the moiety of their father and he/she must marry We ‘span the gap’ that often exists between mainstream services and into the opposite moiety, so that a man and his children are in the opposite moiety to that of his wife and mother. In traditional law the information they typically share, and the information Indigenous it is not possible to have shared ownership or legal title that combines both Dhuwa and Yirritja descent groups. communities want and need. *Balanda: White person *Yolŋu: people of northeast *Malk: Skin name As communication and creative media specialists, we utilise a unique Photos taken by Anita Lakatos approach that has been developed and honed over the decades.

ARDS ABORIGINAL CORPORATION | Annual Report 2017-18 1 No one person can achieve the “place of plenty” for We want to work alongside government and service the community without being inclusive of all clans providers to achieve this. who come together to achieve a better future.

ARDS Future In March this year, the Board met for a Strategic We want to maintain our close links with Planning Workshop where we identified four Aboriginal communities and to continue to build options to explore to support the ongoing understanding and respect of Aboriginal knowledge sustainability for ARDS. and wisdom and for us to gain greater insight into the policies of government. This will enable us to be The Board and the ARDS team have worked hard to partners in our development. progress these options throughout the year. For ARDS we hope that adequate funding can be secured to ensure our future. Appreciation The Board would like to thank the hard working To the Board, for all their effort and commitment FROM THE and dedicated ARDS CEO and team both Yolŋu and working through tough issues, I also express my Balanda, who work to implement the Board’s vision. thanks and appreciation. This year we said a sad farewell to a longstanding It is my hope and prayer that God will help us to CHAIR colleague and friend, Gamarraŋ, Howard Amery. all to build a better society that gives hope to Howard has gone to take up another important Aboriginal youth and future generations – hope that position in the Darwin community. On behalf of the is based on the clarity and vision of the elders. Yow nhämirr bukmak! My name is Maratja This approach is a respectful way to work with Board I would like to express a big thank you for his Dhamarrandji. I am a Djambarrpuyŋu man who Aboriginal communities and makes it possible for us significant contribution to the work of ARDS over lives in Galiwin’ku on in northeast to engage as equals in discussions about the issues many years. Arnhem Land. that impact on our daily lives. These issues include: I work part time as a support worker for the • The local economy and poverty Northern Regional Council of Congress (NRCC) and I Maratja Dhamarrandji • Our health, in particular renal health and the am also an ordained Minister of the Uniting Church. desire to have dialysis on our communities Chairperson I have been a long term Director of the ARDS Board • High levels of incarceration of our youth and the and have held the position of Chairman for one year. need for improved relationships with the police I am committed to the ARDS Board because I believe • How can we engage with government to build our Our Board in the ARDS methodology. The methodology is families based on traditional systems of kinship based on the use of the Aboriginal peoples’ first and discipline? language as a foundation for communication.

Looking forward When thinking about how, as a Yolŋu person, we Too often, government doesn’t recognise or even should approach “Closing the Gap”, I think of Moses try to understand our systems. These systems have and the Israelites. Moses did not try to work on governed our way of life for millennia. his own. He sought advice from Jethro, his wife’s Our future needs to be built on these strong brother (ŋapipi) and he mentored and then handed foundations, not on programs that rely solely authority to Joshua. Joshua then brought the on externally designed school-based education, Israelites to the place of plenty. employment or entertainment programs. While To move to our “place of plenty” we need to draw each of these areas is important, without our on our gurrutu (kinship) relationships rather than traditional systems as the foundation, they ignore them. don’t make sense. Warmbirrirr Ganambarr Milingimbi, Dipililŋa Marika Bukulatjpi Yirrkala, Biritjalawuy Gondarra Matthew Dhulumburrk Our youth need to see our elders making decisions Darwin, Maratja Dhamarrandji Galiwin’ku (Chair), Peter Jones Darwin, Gawura Wanambi Darwin Ramingining based on our traditions of strong Yolŋu governance. (Vice Chair)

2 ARDS ABORIGINAL CORPORATION | Annual Report 2017-18 ARDS ABORIGINAL CORPORATION | Annual Report 2017-18 3 The team based in Winnellie and Nhulunbuy, work And thank you to you too, who have chosen to read with focus and commitment to achieve the Boards our annual report – your support is valued. goals –their substantial effort is fundamental to our Please refer to our website www.ards.com.au for considerable accomplishments. more detailed information about our organisation A big thank you to our contractors; Nexia Edwards and please consider signing up to receive our Marshall, Keogh Bay Consulting and Andrew Eastick Newsletter to be updated on the many exciting who show commitment and enthusiasm above and projects that we will be delivering next year. beyond expectations.

Johanna Ward

CEO FROM THE CEO

Hello and thank you for your interest in our Our third year of delivering Welcome to Country Annual Report! and Healing Workshops to Outback Spirit Tours provided employment opportunities for local Yolŋu This has been another very full year that sees ARDS people and revenue to support ARDS work. delivering excellent outcomes across a range of Certificates of projects and turning our financial situation around We are currently exploring the development of Appreciation to reduce losses. other potential commercial activities that build on Yolŋu expertise and knowledge. Our Board continues to be our backbone, showing wisdom and holding firm in their ongoing belief of We have achieved national recognition for our radio the importance of the work that ARDS does across production when we received two IRCA awards for: RIGHT: Bulkanhawuy and Arnhem Land and other communities. • Best Radio Production for a 12 part radio series Wapiriny What remains special about ARDS is not only “Finding a pathway to reduce harms caused by BELOW LEFT: Gawura and the unique role we play in spanning the gap in pokies” Binalany communication between cultures, but that our BELOW RIGHT: Galitju and • Best Outside Radio Broadcast for our Garma Gawura workplace provides a real example of meaningful Festival live broadcast cross cultural exchange - we work together to share our knowledge, skills and insight to co-design and Despite our many successes, we are not able to deliver our wide range of projects. relax the focus on our funding situation and next year will continue to provide us with significant This year our Board and management team challenges. participated in a process of Strategic Planning to address a number of organisational challenges – I would like to express my appreciation to both the most importantly our uncertain Australian and governments, who funding environment. continue to support us and believe in the work that we do. As a result of this process we have focussed our efforts on developing opportunities for increased The Board provides me with the incentive commercial activity. The Board recognises that to be to maintain the energy to continue in this truly sustainable, we must raise revenue outside of very uncertain, difficult but always, the grant process. rewarding environment.

4 ARDS ABORIGINAL CORPORATION | Annual Report 2017-18 ARDS ABORIGINAL CORPORATION | Annual Report 2017-18 5 PRIMARY HEALTH Top End Smoke Free Spaces

Gapuwiyak residents Glenda Garrawurra, and Phylis Ramingining ALPA employees Roy Maparrku and Peter Gekirri Wunuŋmurra, with the Barrku Buny’tjurr signs showing their installed a Barrku Buny’tjurr sign and were planning to enforce household’s ‘smoke far away’ rule this rule

87 households visited; Ramingining 54 Smoke Free Spaces attempted or strengthened 192 conversations

71 households visited; Gapuwiyak 56 Smoke Free Spaces attempted or strengthened 192 conversations

smoke far away…so that your kids don’t get sick from your smoke 20 households visited; Minjilang 14 Smoke Free Spaces attempted or strengthened 36 conversations ARDS completed its pioneering Top End Smoke Free Spaces project in July, after two years of In Gapuwiyak, for example, we know of 39 ‘Luŋiny’: Facilitators used different visual aids to conversations in three Arnhem Land communities households who attempted to create a ‘smoke share and stimulate stories. This picture (below) about smoke free spaces. free home’ rule for the first time, and another 17 of a tobacco pipe created lots of discussion about The project, funded by the Federal Government’s households who strengthened an existing weak traditional customs and law for smoking. (Photo Tackling Indigenous Smoking Innovation grants, has rule. Of the 48 of these 56 rules that we were able courtesy of the The Donald Thomson Collection seen excellent results in the three communities – to evaluate, we were confident that over half of (Donated by Mrs. Dorita Thomson to the University of Ramingining and Gapuwiyak in East Arnhem Land, them (58%) were active during our final visit. Melbourne and on loan to Museums Victoria.) and Minjilang () in West Arnhem Land. This is a great result, suggesting the approach During this project, we weren’t just sharing Between January 2017 and July 2018, ARDS piloted in this project – in-language, respectful information one-way. We heard hundreds of cross-cultural facilitators had over 400 dialogues sharing of the ‘deep story’ about smoking, with amazing stories about ŋarali’ and baki (tobacco): about smoking and smoke free spaces in the three a focus on supporting the creation of smoke free stories about smoking in Macassans and Mission places. We believe these dialogues were, for many spaces – can provide the support that remote times, stories about traditional law for smoking, residents, the first time they received meaningful Indigenous households and communities need to stories about smoking today, many stories about information about this complex subject and had make changes to their smoking habits. people wanting to quit, and stories about the loss of the opportunity to share their stories and ideas control felt by many older people. about smoking. After these dialogues, many householders tried to start a ‘smoke away, in the distance’ rule for In 2018, signs were produced for the four main languages their house. in Minjilang – Maung, Iwaidja, Gunbarlang, and Kunwinjku.

6 ARDS ABORIGINAL CORPORATION | Annual Report 2017-18 ARDS ABORIGINAL CORPORATION | Annual Report 2017-18 7 Here are some of the stories we heard: luŋiny (tobacco pipe) are for men only – I know Renal Report that because the designs are without meaning "These signs are working! I point to them and tell for women and children, we see them but we The Uniting Church Northern Synod approached my grandchildren to smoke outside. Before, I used can't understand what they mean. They are dhuyu ARDS to commission a report regarding renal to tell them to smoke outside and they (sacred). If women or children would smoke, there services for remote patients in the Top End. ignored me.” would be a severe punishment.” Informed by discussions with key stakeholders and “At my own house, we have three teenagers who reviewing the literature, the report highlighted “I used to pack my father's pipe as a child, and he'd smoke inside, they are deaf. Every time I smell the impact of kidney failure on Aboriginal people say to me, 'don’t ever smoke, this is no good'. I saw smoke in their rooms I tell them to smoke outside, in remote areas. The massive impact of kidney there was a law there. That's why I don't smoke. I but they ignore me. I think they don't understand failure is compounded in remote areas by issues tell other people, too: ‘You've got to take care of about passive smoking, or they don't care because of poverty, remoteness, miscommunication and your kids. You are a role model for them, and if you they are teenagers. It's very hard.” dislocation, often removing senior leadership from are smoking, they'll grow up to smoke too’.” communities. The predominant treatment modality "I quit many years ago. I just quit, I didn't have to usually requires patients to relocate to a major “I saw my father smoking rowu (beach morning see a doctor. The store used to be closed on the urban area for life-continuing treatment - There glory – Ipomoea pes-caprae). In Mission times, weekends. One weekend I'd run out of baki, so I are remain few places in the Top End where remote when Yolŋu were starving for ŋarali', they would essential treatment for remote patients in remote didn't smoke all weekend. On Monday, I went to the nurse-assisted dialysis is possible, the treatment dry the leaves (not the stem), crush them up, and communities provides hope that this can continue store in the morning, bought a packet of cigarettes, preference of a majority of Aboriginal people. smoke them in a luŋiny, or in those long white to be replicated across remote parts of . and lit one up. But when I smoked it, its taste was However the success of Western Desert Nganampa shells or crab claws.” This report can be found at different - no good. I just quit then, and I gave the Walytja Palyantjaku Tjutaku (Western Desert rest of the packet away." https://ards.com.au/about/reports/ “Old people never used to get sick from smoking. Dialysis – The Purple House) in providing such Today, lots of people are getting sick. Before, “My new granddaughter will be arriving here in only old people smoked, not young people. They two weeks! Please give me some signs. We'll start smoked it with a pipe, and only smoked in the NDIS this rule, telling people to smoke outside. Even I morning, and at the end of the day, after coming ARDS have been working with Miwatj Health will smoke outside, because we've got to back from hunting or collecting food. Now people and ALPA over the past year to improve the protect her”. smoke all day, and everyone smokes.” understanding of disability and the NDIS for Yolŋu “I've tried to quit a few times, but nothing works. in East Arnhem Land. ARDS worked with James Cook University (JCU) to I smell ŋarali' and then I'm back into Miwatj Health and ALPA are two of the Coordinators comprehensively evaluate the project. smoking again.” of Support in the East Arnhem communities. ARDS The Arnhem Land Progress Association (ALPA) also delivered a series of workshops for Yolŋu working wanakanharaw ga dhukarrwu manymakku”. This “Macassans brought these chemicals to Yolŋu – provided support for this project. within the NDIS, as well as participants and their includes a facilitators guide for future workshops, before, our bodies didn't have any chemicals in families, in Nhulunbuy, Galiwin’ku and Ramingining. This report can be found at a comprehensive list of Disability terms with them, we were strong and healthy. They traded Delivered over one day, the workshops sought to https://ards.com.au/about/reports/ translations into Djambarrpuyŋu and Gumatj, an ŋarali' for dharripa (trepang). The designs on the develop a conceptual understanding of the NDIS: NDIS wordlist with translations of key NDIS specific the background, foundations of the NDIS, key terms, and a short film capturing the workshop components, and the practical implementation. material and discussion by participants. The workshops are complemented by a suite This report can be found at of resources: “Dharaŋanaraw dhiyak NDIS-ku: https://ards.com.au/about/reports/

Bridges in Health and Criminal Law: From Text to Sound With two grants funded by the Department The first project is to develop a multi-lingual Yolŋu- of Communications and the Arts’ Indigenous languages to Plain English health dictionary app Languages and Arts fund, ARDS has continued work for mobile phone, which takes as its starting point this year to make two print dictionaries available in ARDS's "Dictionary of Anatomy: Dhäruk Mala ga audio form. Mayali' Rumbalpuy".

Howard Amery & Djuwada

8 ARDS ABORIGINAL CORPORATION | Annual Report 2017-18 ARDS ABORIGINAL CORPORATION | Annual Report 2017-18 9 Health Dictionary App I was born in Nhulunbuy when my parents were living and working at Yurrwi. Dad was employed by Language barriers and differing approaches to the Methodist Overseas Mission to do missionary health and the body are a major obstacle for work and community development. Mum worked in Yolŋu and for many other Australians from non- Yolŋu-matha literacy education for adults. That was English speaking backgrounds when in mainstream between 1972 and 1978. healthcare settings. During that time, every Balanda who worked for the This past year, ARDS has been working on a health Northern Synod was required to do a three-month dictionary app which we hope will be a tool for Yolŋu-matha conversation course and to continue interpreters, health practitioners and patients to studying after that. My parents had many teachers at communicate and understand each other better. The Yurrwi, but one of my mum's teachers and mentors app will enable users to search for anatomical and was Ŋalambana, whose daughter is Warmbirrirr, a pathological terms, and listen to information about member of the ARDS board. I am pleased to be able these terms in any of four languages: Plain English, to work with relatives of Ŋalambana and so many Dhuwal (Djambarrpuyŋu), Dhaŋu (Wangurri) and other great teachers here at ARDS. (Gumatj). It will be more than just a classic In 2001 I returned to Yurrwi after finishing my dictionary: it will unpack the information in a very schooling down south, and it seemed like everyone clear way, and have search capabilities to allow remembered me, even though I was only a child picture browsing to cater for low literacy, and text when we left the island. I was welcomed like family browsing for those who know the particular term and treated with the greatest generosity, humour, they are looking for in any of the four languages. and seriousness. I stayed with the daughter of one The starting point for the app is an earlier print of the women my mum had taught years ago. Her dictionary made by ARDS, called, "Dictionary of TALKING uncle, Dhulumburrk, also an ARDS Board member, Anatomy: Dhäruk Mala ga Mayali' Rumbalpuy”. had been a brother, teacher and companion of my ARDS wanted to make these resources more easily dad's, so I felt a close connection to that family. obtainable, and also accessible to those with low WITH THE After several years of extended visits I began to literacy. This app will provide the dictionary content gentler, more circuitous ways of discussing health have some proficiency in speaking Dhuwal, and was in audio so that anyone can listen to the content, issues should be a feature of the app. While the invited to help work on a dictionary project for Yan- and those who don't speak a Yolŋu language such as TEAM: starting point of the app was to deliver Balanda nhaŋu – another variety of Yolŋu-matha. I signed up some health practitioners, can still play content in health knowledge in a clearly explained way to do a Graduate Certificate in Applied Linguistics Yolŋu languages for those who do. Salome Harris through Yolŋu languages, the process has lead the through CDU to give me some foundations in Through the project we are expanding the team to work on demonstrating how to ‘mayali’kurr linguistics. This is how my work in linguistics began. dictionary into two additional Yolŋu languages: lakaram’ or ‘speak circuitously’ so as not to ‘ŋayaŋu- I later did training at La Trobe University and the Dhaŋu (Wangurri) and Dhuwala (Gumatj). Our wutthun’ or ‘hit the inner being’ of the sick or University of Melbourne where I finally got my team have been working in Darwin and Nhulunbuy ailing person. linguistics degree. to translate the text and in turn, record these Currently the dictionary includes 156 anatomy Over the years I have begun to work more in the translations in audio for the app. entries and associated pathologies. We would like field of language maintenance and language One of the key learnings of the process of to expand the dictionary as time goes on however revitalisation. Yolŋu at Yurrwi had been educating converting the print dictionary into audio has been to include procedures, expand the information on me along with their Yolŋu families about how their the extent to which audio has more impact than anatomy and pathology, and to respond to feedback languages were changing. They continue to do this, text. This is good in terms of information sharing, received from users about other information raising awareness about how wherever possible but it has meant that some entries that were needed. The beauty of this app is that it is being to choose Yolŋu words and expressions instead of acceptable in print form are too 'djinbulk' ('sharp') built so that it will allow the addition of new entries borrowing from English. or jarring in audio form. Luckily Yolŋu have ways of and improvements into the future. When in 2006 I began to work at Katherine Regional sharing information carefully and metaphorically so The app will be available for download from app Aboriginal Language Centre, and some years later that with some adaptation, what would otherwise stores from early 2019. If you wish to be involved at Ngukurr Language Centre, Blakfala from Barunga, be sensitive material can still feature in the in user testing for the app, we would value your Beswick, Bulman, Weemol, Ngukurr and Numbulwar open access part of the app. A restricted access, feedback. Please email Salome Harris at ARDS on taught me about their languages and we worked password-protected part of the app will contain [email protected] if you wish to take part. together to record and teach them. They shared information such as women and men’s health with me the anguish of seeing their languages information that requires sharing with more care. become threatened, and for young people, of having In the process of making the app the Yolŋu members little chance to learn their heritage languages at of the team have identified that demonstrating all. Indigenous people visiting from the southern

10 ARDS ABORIGINAL CORPORATION | Annual Report 2017-18 ARDS ABORIGINAL CORPORATION | Annual Report 2017-18 11 states impressed on us how critical it was to work in I later went on to work at AIATSIS, at Batchelor every way to record and promote these languages (BIITE), at the University of Melbourne, and finally at while they are still spoken. The drive of the elders Ngukurr Language Centre before I came to work as a LAW, GOVERNANCE to maintain their languages, and the effort and linguist at ARDS. gratitude of young people who had the opportunity Alongside my colleagues, I am currently working to learn some language has motivated me to & ECONOMICS on a multi-lingual Dictionary of Anatomy and continue working in this field. Pathology, helping to translate and record a print Dictionary of Northern Territory Criminal Law In addition to learning the importance of knowing dictionary (Dictionary of Anatomy: Dhäruk Mala ga one's heritage language, I was taught the value of Mayali' Rumbalpuy, published in 2009) into an app the Kriol language as a vessel of Blakfala ways of for mobile phone. I also work on translation and seeing and maintaining little gems of these heritage community consultation jobs that come in from Bridges in Health and Criminal languages. I learned first hand how languages have time to time. different and changing status, and how perspectives Law: From text to sound I am pleased to be able to work with such a on this can change the way people feel about passionate and dedicated group as the ARDS team The second dictionary being converted into audio themselves and where they belong. Through all of and I look forward to contributing into the future. form is the Dictionary of Northern Territory Criminal these experiences in Arnhem Land I saw first-hand Law. The process of this has been to develop how powerful learning in one's first language can explanations of legal concepts and processes be, be it for Kriol, Yolŋu-matha, English or any in Plain English then to translate these into other language. Djambarrpuyŋu, and now we’re recording it. In the process we’re learning about the nature of translating such complicated material and testing the limits of what you can do in the dictionary format. One challenge that the legal dictionary particularly reveals is that the dictionary entries, eg. ‘magistrate’, ‘summons’, ‘hearing’ or ‘bail’ are so interdependent - there are so many pieces of the story that are required to get to the meaning of one concept. A concept like ‘bail’ for instance doesn’t really have a meaning independent from the system it is part of. The audio format in turn highlights the density of the information. Recording the entries has often lead us to tease out the information even further to give listeners time to digest what they’re hearing. Both projects push us to explore different ways to approach sharing this important information to as broad an audience as possible. Yolŋu regularly ask ARDS for information on the Balanda legal system. For a long time Yolŋu have been living under a law that isn’t well explained in their languages. This project is a small step towards making this complicated information available. The dictionary will be available from early 2019 on the NT Community Legal Education Network’s website: https://www.lawinfont.org.au/

12 ARDS ABORIGINAL CORPORATION | Annual Report 2017-18 ARDS ABORIGINAL CORPORATION | Annual Report 2017-18 13 Gawura was born near Raymaŋgirr outstation. His family moved around the Gapuwiyak area and south as far as Numbulwar. It was here that he first attended school. During his ‘Balanda’ schooling he also attended Shepherdson College, Gapuwiyak School and Dhupuma College. He commenced working at the Gapuwiyak Store and then moved into community work before attending Batchelor College where he studied linguistics. It was here that he met his partner from Central Australia. Over the years they have lived in both Central Australia and Arnhem Land. Gawura’s work has involved him in roles such as Community Services, Homeland Resource Galiwin’ku Centre, CDEP administration and a Money Management program. Makarr Dhuni facilitation, mediation and restorative justice For health reasons he and his family had to move to Darwin around 2004. Between 2013-2015 ARDS has been supporting clan leaders in Makarr Dhuni was created in the model of the Gawura was a Consultant and Researcher with the Galiwin’ku to meet together and talk about law Village Council, made up mainly of highly qualified Indigenous Governance and Leadership Project and justice issues in the community, and use yolŋu leaders who were strong and heeded by everyone. TALKING at CDU, where he had a lead role in Yolŋu ways of resolving disputes and helping yolŋu to find One of the aims of Makarr Dhuni is mägaya rom governance mapping for Gapuwiyak and Homelands, mägayamirr dhukarr (peaceful ways of living). (peaceful law/way). researching and documenting Yolŋu governance and This work draws on Yolŋu leadership and strengths, ARDS staff in Darwin have completed mediation WITH THE co-designing and producing a resource for use by and also learns from what has worked in the past. training at the Community Justice Centre to become both Yolŋu and Balanda. nationally accredited mediators. The mainstream In the mission days, there was a Village Council Fluent in many Yolŋu languages and English, Gawura understading of mediation is about facilitating TEAM: which was central to decision-making in the worked with the Aboriginal Interpreter Service, a process to help parties in a conflict to take community. Everyone would come to the Village providing interpreter services for government ownership of their dispute, talk to each other about Gawura Wanambi Council to ask for permission, guidance or decisions. agencies and non-government organisations, their understandings of the problem, and resolve it The Village Council was responsible for resolving (Gamarra ) including high level legal and health interpreting. in a lasting way that works for them. problems Yolŋu way. Police only came into the Since 2015 Gawura has worked on several projects community for serious cases like murder. Building on work that has explored cross-cultural with ARDS including designing community mediation in a Yolŋu context, we have workshopped Now, various different agencies are pulling people engagement strategies and producing award- different dispute resolution processes that might in different directitons, making different decisions winning multimedia resources that promote apply in Yolŋu communities. Experienced Yolŋu about different subjects and consulting with Yolŋu culture. mediators in Galiwin’ku bring many decades of different yolŋu. There is no unified picture. The experience of working with Yolŋu and balanda community is being run by foreign organisations. to address conflicts and to communicate about Each organisation works with some yolŋu, but they mediation across language and cultural divides. are still foreign and they are not accountable across the community. To engage with legal instutions and ask them to support Yolŋu approaches to resolving problems in Quote from a clan leader and the community, clan leaders need an understanding of the assumptions and reasoning that shape TO for Galiwin’ku Township Australian law. ARDS is also working with clan “The Government comes into the community and leaders to increase yolŋu understanding of the disrupts us by not listening to the right people legal system, using ARDS’s extensive resources about how things should be done. They then throw for explaining assumptions in legal language and money here and there which creates confusion talking about those ideas in Yolŋu language. and chaos. Then the government comes back and This is a multi-year project with many opportunities tells us it is our community, and as leaders we have to work with other organisations in Galiwin’ku to to solve the social and community issues that the enhance the effectiveness and impact of Yolŋu government has helped to create”. community leadership.

14 ARDS ABORIGINAL CORPORATION | Annual Report 2017-18 ARDS ABORIGINAL CORPORATION | Annual Report 2017-18 15 Volatile Substance Abuse in SOCIAL & SUPPORT Yol u Communities. ‘How will we get to Gäwalŋa, that place of plenty?’ SERVICES ‘The young people are so self-centred.’ ‘Our youth aren’t listening...’ ‘The sniffers and their carers are not on the same wavelength. Our families are disconnected.’ These were some of the troubling statements emerging from Yolŋu elders during Phase One of a project responding to an outbreak of petrol sniffing in Yolŋu communities in 2017. At that time, children and youth had been breaking in to the airports and tampering with small planes to obtain AvGas, an aviation fuel which contains high levels of lead. Joy Bulkanhawuy & Joanne Baker Authorities scrambled to secure the aircraft and and growing communities, even obstacles to free- grounds. The Department of Health developed to-air television access. Australian laws relating to protocols to assess and treat lead poison in children family life are opaque to many Yolŋu families for and youth who were found to have high levels of whom English is a foreign language, and carers are lead in the blood stream. A VSA (Volatile Substance confused about their rights and responsibilities in Abuse) Working Group was formed to gather disciplining and correcting children. Nevertheless, representatives from all levels of government, Yolŋu identified traditional knowledge and culture clinics, educators, aircraft operators and other as protective factors for youth engaged in volatile service providers. The Chief Minister’s Department substance abuse. In spite of the challenges contracted ARDS to conduct a two phase project to expressed through Phase One, elders hold strong consult Yolŋu families in in Galiwin’ku, Milingimbi visions for the future of connected families and and Gapuwiyak. communities. The report outlines how governments During Phase One, ARDS facilitators and Yolŋu and others can support Yolŋu leaders, organisations families worked together to discuss volatile and families to engage with the underlying causes ‘Pokies Story’ production team Andrew Pascoe, Howard Amery & Gawura Wanambi with the IRCA award for Best Radio Production. substance abuse, the dangers of lead and some of of substance abuse. the main concerns for the children and youth. ARDS The title of this report is drawn from an allegory Gambling series wins award issued the Interim Report Hearing the ‘Yolŋu Voice’, about three different places, told in Yolŋu Matha which pointed out that Yolŋu identified a number of by a grandmother in Galiwin’ku. She described the ARDS’ 2017 radio series about gambling and pokies The ‘Pokies Story’ programs can be streamed or underlying causes of VSA. Though the VSA response memory of the past, the prevailing confusion of the was awarded ‘Best Radio Production’ at the 2017 downloaded at https://soundcloud.com/ards-2/sets/ had focused on halting the supply of volatile present era, and the hope of a future in a plentiful Indigenous Remote Communications Association pokies-story. substances, Yolŋu respondents were much more place, Gäwalŋa. “How will we get to Gäwalŋa, that (IRCA) Awards. In 2018, ARDS will commence a follow-up project, concerned about young people’s desire to place of plenty? Will it be worth it? Yes, that’s the Nhaliy dhu Yolŋuy yutjuwalakum mari beŋur pokies- again funded by the CBF, to hold conversations abuse substances. place to be. How do we support each other? How ŋur? – ‘Finding a pathway to reduce harms caused about gambling and community resilience with Phase Two of the project has produced the Moving can we love each other? How will we live in joy? by pokies’ – is a 12 part series airing on Yolŋu Radio Yolŋu in person. to a Place of Plenty report https://ards.com.au/ We are calling Yolŋu together. We must all rise up to and available online. ‘Gambling Dialogues with Yolŋu’, a three-year about/reports/. In May and June 2018, ARDS help each other, our service and cooperation must It was sponsored by the Northern Territory project, will see ARDS travel to several locations in facilitators met with nearly 40 Yolŋu participants be absolutely authentic. Don’t just imagine what is Government through the Community Benefit Fund's north-east Arnhem Land. Framed around the stories in two communities to consider the issues and possible, instead we must pour our whole body and (CBF) Gambling Amelioration grants. developed in the radio programs, the dialogues responses that best suit their families. Participants heart into it. It must come from us. United we must will seek to stimulate broader conversations about in the Phase Two workshops raised a wide range work to make this a better place.” IRCA judges noted the series’ “innovative approach community resilience. of issues: barriers to local leadership, pressures on (Translated from Djambarrpuyŋu). to narrative techniques”, and the creation of new traditional kinship structures in the context of large terms in Matha to describe contemporary phenomena, as highlights.

16 ARDS ABORIGINAL CORPORATION | Annual Report 2017-18 ARDS ABORIGINAL CORPORATION | Annual Report 2017-18 17 Matt Wrigley is an applied linguist who began his working life at the Kimberley Language Resource Centre in Halls Creek in the late 80s. At the Language Centre Matt worked on oral histories, dictionary development and cultural training. Today, Matt is a director of Keogh Bay, a company that works at the interface between mainstream organisations and Aboriginal people. Matt had always been aware of the great work done by ARDS in cross-cultural communications in the Northern Territory and when the opportunity to work with ARDS on the management of the Top End Smoke Free spaces project came up in 2016, he jumped at the opportunity. The Top End Smoke Free spaces project came to an end in June 2018 after two successful years working in three Top End communities. Matt is now focussed on supporting ARDS to develop quality on-line and face-to-face cultural training for the Top End. ARDS is one of a very small handful of organisations TALKING in Australia whose work goes to the heart of cross-cultural engagement through language and dialogue. As a linguist, working in a place where WITH THE English and Aboriginal languages sit side by side and where most staff are bilingual or progressing towards competency in another language remains TEAM: very exciting. Matt Wrigley

Family Violence Prevention Over the past year ARDS work on Family Violence • Radio programs explaining DVO’s, following the saw ARDS continue the Family Violence workshops same storyline which was ultimately included in in Lake Evella. ARDS also sought to capture and the workshops; preserve some of the content developed throughout • A comprehensive Final Report of the project for the project. This led to the development of the use as a future reference. This report includes a following resources: complete summary of the project, key learnings, • A resource about Yolŋu strength-based approaches and an evaluation of the successes and limitations to family violence centred on gurrutu (kinship). of the project. This report has been very well This will increase capacity for ARDS and others to received and has generated discussion about how provide culturally appropriate support for people we can continue this critical work empowering involved in family violence. This will particularly Yolŋu to support people affected by family assist non-Indigenous practitioners working in the violence. Family Violence space; This report can be found at https://ards.com.au/about/reports/

18 ARDS ABORIGINAL CORPORATION | Annual Report 2017-18 ARDS ABORIGINAL CORPORATION | Annual Report 2017-18 19 Tour participants with an ailment may request ARDS employs members of the Galpu Clan, lead by COMMERCIAL CONTRACTS the application of additional healing oil, and such Clan Elder Djalu Gurriwiwi, to provide the Welcome requests occur frequently. to Country. The Welcome to Country comprises up to ten Clan members, comprising yidaki player, Outback Spirit Tours During the financial year ARDS completed the songmen and male and female dancers. facilitation of the Welcome to Country ceremonies ARDS, for the third year, continues to facilitate opportunity for questions and answers followed by and the Bush Medicine Healing experiences for the Local women, led by Eunice Djerrkŋu Marika, the delivery of a Welcome to Country and a Bush inter-mingling over a cup of tea. 2017 Tour season and commenced the activities for provide the Bush Medicine Healing experience. Medicine Healing experience to the participants The opportunity for tour participants to join in the 2018 Tour season. of Outback Spirit Tours twelve day Arnhem Land the song and dance portion of the performance is Wilderness Adventure Tour. During each season in excess of 1,000 participants generally taken up with enthusiasm. are provided with two authentic experiences at the Both activities occur on the first day of the tour. The Bush Medicine Healing experience occurs at commencement of their Tour. Tours commence from Nhulunbuy generally every Shady Beach near Yirrkala and is of 45 minutes second day, from the beginning of May though to duration, comprising a host greeting incorporating mid-September. a smoking ceremony, a story about the healing The Welcome to Country occurs at Wirrwawuy capacity of bush medicines and the sharing of Water Efficiency – Ngukurr, Beach near Nhulunbuy and is a performance of one a healing oil produced by boiling the leaves of Milingimbi and Amanbidji hour duration, comprising a host greeting, twenty local bush medicine plant known as Beauty Leaf ARDS has led Power and Water Corporation’s minutes song and dance (buŋgul), storytelling about Calophyllum inophyllum. community engagement in three water-stressed the performance, and local stories of interest, the communities: Ngukurr and Milingimbi (East Arnhem Land), and Amanbidji (Timber Creek region, far west NT). ARDS has engaged extensively with households and stakeholders to identify a range of strategies to reduce excessive water loss in the three communities. Working with local people, we highlighted ARDS facilitators engaged with many residents and community-based responses as a critical part of stakeholders, including Ngukurr’s Housing Maintenance Officers, achieving ongoing water efficiency. who play an invaluable role in repairing household leaks. Pictured are HMOs Clifford Thompson and Stewart Hall. Smart Electricity Prepayment Meterbox Installation – Barunga, Beswick & Manyallaluk ARDS were engaged by Power and Water Nine local community engagement officers were Corporation to provide community engagement employed to work alongside ARDS staff to help services to support the roll-out of new smart residents to become familiar with and understand electricity prepayment meterboxes in Beswick, how to use the new meterboxes. Barunga and Manyallaluk (Eva Valley). We talked to residents about how the new smart meters work, how they would be installed, and what to expect in the changeover period. Solar SETuP Program – ARDS were engaged by Power and Water and key community stakeholders about the Corporation to provide community engagement Solar SETuP Program, ensuring awareness and services to support the rollout of the Solar SETuP understanding of the details of the project, transformation program across several Northern including benefits, construction timeframes for Territory remote Indigenous communities, including capital works delivery. The engagement activities the communities of Wurrumiyanga on Bathurst also included an educational element delivered Island, Pirlangimpi (Garden Point) and Milikapiti through participation of students in sessions (Snake Bay) on Melville Island. conducted at Bathurst Island school campuses. The community engagement activities included Outback Spirit photos by Louise Lethbridge. Facebook - Create Evoke - Lou Lethbridge engaging with and informing Tiwi Island residents

20 ARDS ABORIGINAL CORPORATION | Annual Report 2017-18 ARDS ABORIGINAL CORPORATION | Annual Report 2017-18 21 I was born and raised in Europe, far away from Australia. It was the sound of the that LANGUAGE & CULTURAL drew my attention towards the ‘Land Down Under’. I started to learn about the Indigenous culture during my teenage years in the hope that I could SUSTAINABILITY visit Australia one day. At the same time, I started to blow bamboo tubes and slowly got some sound out of them that set me on a journey. I arrived in Australia in 2006 and after my return to Europe, I felt that I wanted to spend more time here and learn about the culture and history of this country. I have lived in Australia for 10 years now, my interest in the history, traditional life and languages of the First People of this country still guides me, and – as we say at ARDS – “puts me in the learner’s seat”. While I was living in , away from the Territory (before my ‘ARDS-time’) I regulary visited Northeast Arnhem Land and learned from Yolŋu about music, land, kinship, and other parts of life. My conversations with Yolŋu made me aware that none of us were speaking our original languages TALKING since English is the third or fourth language for them, and the second for me (my first language is Hungarian). I thought I need to do something about WITH THE it. My ŋändi - who was a lecturer at Charles Darwin Emma Murphy and Joy Bulkanhawuy were pleased to see ARDS’ translation work about local water supplies on display at the Milingimbi Airport! University, also on the ARDS Board at that time, passed away now - encouraged me to start to learn Translation Work TEAM: Yolŋu Matha languages that will give me a better understanding of who Yolŋu are. I took her advice. What do fire extinguishers, funeral tributes, treasury Janos Kerekes budgets, vision statements, and vaccinations I started my studies at Charles Darwin University have in common? In 2017-18, ARDS has provided and soon it became clear that learning language is translation services for all these jobs and more! a unique way to learn about the life and culture of the Indigenous people. I contacted ARDS and very Last year, our language teams in Darwin and soon was offered to come on board to work with Nhulunbuy continued to translate a range of the Indigenous people of the Northern Territory. information for clients. Sometimes, we are working It is a privilige to work with the organisation, be to interpret information from dense or specialised part of the ARDS’ family and contribute to the work English language into Plain English. Often, we go of our Team. My main role is as a cross-cultural the next step to drafting that information into an

facilitator, I work on several projects in West and Aboriginal language. Then our teams go through a Salome (leading session), Gawura, Bulkanhawuy, Yinin and Northeast Arnhem Land, as well as Darwin, that I checking process for the accuracy and naturalness Sylvia participated in a professional development session on enjoy every day. During my travels I have a so called of the text before we confirm it. Some clients also translation principles. ‘secret project’, that is to hear and learn about ask us to record the translation so the information the traditional didgeridoo, that is known by many is also available as audio. In other jobs, we start names: yidaki, mandabul, mako, artawirr, marluk, with content in Aboriginal languages – film, audio or and so on. I believe that my work at ARDS gives text – and translate into English with just as much me an opprortunity to see the world through a attention to meaning in the original, accuracy and different perspective, that I would not be able to get naturalness in the translated product. anywhere else. This is good work for Indigenous and non- Indigenous staff of all ages because we learn more and more about how our languages function. It is also great to see more recognition for Aboriginal languages in many areas of contemporary Australian life!

22 ARDS ABORIGINAL CORPORATION | Annual Report 2017-18 ARDS ABORIGINAL CORPORATION | Annual Report 2017-18 23 Ancient Languages New Sounds “...Ŋunhiyinhdhi warrpam marrtji yukurra djunama Over the last two years, a team of 14 people dhäruklil. Dhäruktja dhuwal ŋilimurruŋ, yaka ŋayi worked across 4 Top End communities to record barrku, dhäruktja dhuwal ŋilimurruŋgal galki. and document Yolŋu clan languages and songs. On Bili ŋilimurr yurru waŋany yolŋunhany dhiyaŋ ga Thursday 21st June, ARDS Aboriginal Corporation dhärukthu. Ga yaka ŋayi dhuwal dhäruk ŋilimurr celebrated the launch of a double album which ŋuli nhäwiyirr nhanŋu galki yan ŋayi ga bitjana bili features some of the music and language emerging ŋilimurr ŋuli nhäma ga märram bala waŋan ŋuli from the Ancient Languages, New Sounds project. dhäruk, yolkal ga yolkal.” Yolŋu society is governed by kinship structures “...our languages contain all of that knowledge. which are formalised in languages and songlines. Our languages are not irrelevant. We are intimately This project celebrates the diversity of Yolŋu connected with our languages, because as human knowledge, contemporary expression and the beings we use words to talk together. We hold our stories that unite Yolŋu across northeast Arnhem languages close and ready.” Land. A veteran Djapu language worker who Djapu language worker attended the first Nhulunbuy workshop in 2017. “We Yolŋu are still living here with our languages, The double album booklet contains some of the our clans, our law, our character and our culture. team’s language work: mostly Yolŋu lyrics, stories We continue these unbroken traditions. How do we and synopses. English reading audiences will also share our way of life with non-Indigenous people see English paraphrase throughout. The English is – near and far? Through song. Through dance. a humble attempt to describe the imagery evoked Through ceremony.” in Yolŋu song. Through this process, our team has sometimes decided to make implied information more explicit. On other occasions, the team has obscured some detail from the English, for example, “Ŋilimurr dhuwal yolŋu nhina yukurra dhärukmirr, place names and family names. ga bäpurru'mirr, ga rommirr, gakal'mirr, djuŋunymirr. Yolŋu clans and their languages are organised into Dhuwali ŋilimurruŋ dhuwal däpthun marrtji, ga two moieties – Dhuwa and Yirritja. Although the Our team worked hard to choose and order the Andrew Grimes and Guyundula ŋilimurr dhuwal yolŋu balanya nhakun ŋilimurr new album contains only some of the Dhuwa audio songs and stories that make sense to Yolŋu yurru djäma nhä malanynha milkum ŋunha from the project, every Yolŋu listener will relate to audiences and simultaneously educate non- bala ŋäpakiw walalaŋ barrkumal, galkimal ga these songs and stories. They remain the treasured Indigenous audiences. We hope that the English dhiyal bäyma through nhäkurr malanyŋukurr? property of the Yolŋu clans who have recorded commentaries help non-Indigenous audiences to Manikaykurr. Buŋgulkurr. Bilmakurr.” their music and documented their languages. appreciate the beauty of the Yolŋu catalogue and to Djapu language worker Indeed, the primary purpose of this project is to recognise this cohesive Yolŋu knowledge which in retain this valuable knowledge for current and English may be classified into specialist fields like future generations of Yolŋu. The language worker geography, sociology, ecology or history. elaborates on why languages are so important, ARDS Aboriginal Corporation gratefully acknowledges the Department of Communications and the Arts (ILA) for the funding and many Yolŋu cultural authorities for strong leadership and contributions. The double album Buku-watthunawuy Nininyŋu Rom is now available for purchase. Album launch at Buku-larrŋgay, Yirrkala You can also hear the stories and songs on Yolŋu Radio now!

Guruguru recording Guwanbal, Matjaki and Gäyalŋa

24 ARDS ABORIGINAL CORPORATION | Annual Report 2017-18 ARDS ABORIGINAL CORPORATION | Annual Report 2017-18 25 RADIO AND CREATIVE MEDIA InDigiMOB In late 2017 ARDS was engaged by the Indigenous connectivity solutions. He has also provided Remote Communications Association (IRCA) to technical advice and developed a suite of deliver the Telstra-funded inDigiMob program in appropriate and relevant learning resources, that northeast Arnhem Land, at Galiwin’ku, Lake Evella, communities can take advantage of according to Milingimbi and Ramingining. their interests or needs. The role of ARDS is to provide digital inclusion Across the four communities Ben has worked with projects and activities in each community, including 13 Yolŋu Digital Mentors, drawn from community by providing advice around digital connectivity Ranger groups, Art Centres and Language Centres. and infrastructure. The Digital Mentors have been engaged in The role also includes the recruitment and training workshops and skill sharing in photography, digital YR Footy Show Presenters - Nick O'Riley and Larrtjanŋa Gurruwiwi of Digital Mentors in each community, people who storytelling, short film production, quality audio through the project will have gained the knowledge recording of traditional songs, stories and radio and confidence to pass on digital capability to interviews, computer skills development, data Yol u Radio community members beyond the completion management, cataloguing and archiving Yolŋu Radio has had a big year, we're proud of the discussions around strategies for ensuring that of the project. digital media. work our presenters and producers have been young people learn and grow their knowledge ARDS engaged former employee Ben Ward to As a result of the workshops and skill sharing the doing. In addition to all the Live Broadcasts, we've of culture, law, land, kinship, traditional food, deliver the project which is initially for the 2018 Digital Mentors have produced a suite of short films, seen the continuation of our regular programs, the music and craft which leads to the development calendar year. eBooks and audio recordings about community Dhawu Dhawu Show, Burwu Show, Batjan Show and of respectful, responsible, healthy members of members, learning on country, traditional arts During the six months to June 30, Ben has been the Andrew Gurruwiwi Show. society that will keep their culture and language practice, land management and other local strong for generations to come. ARDS gratefully successful in establishing a network of community- We've also had several in-depth educational series community social stories. acknowledges the support of the Northern based Digital Mentors, improved digital literacy go to air, developed in conjunction with ARDS Territory Government in the production of through workshops and training and supported community educators, linguists and this series. radio presenters. • Volitile Substance Abuse - Lead (3 Episodes, 11 These include: parts) - The latest installment in Yolŋu Radio's • Raypirripuy Radio Series (9 episodes), This 9 ongoing series looking at Volitile Substance part radio series explores the history and current Abuse in the Yolŋu context. These episodes were status of ‘Raypirri’ often referred to as discipline developed in response to the disturbing trend of but encompassing the raising of Yolŋu children AvGas sniffing. to become good responsible members of society. • Social Media series (6 Episodes) - This series The senior elders involved reflect on their own explores the use of social media in the Yolŋu experiences growing up in the 1950’s, 60’s and world, its benefits and its harms. It explores the 70’s, and discuss the influencing factors that areas where the way social media is used comes Annie Ganilawuy, Theresala Gorryindi & Sheila Warrkarr Annie Ganmilawuy & Helen Ganal Milingimbi Art & Culture have contributed to these processes changing in direct conflict with Yolŋu law and processes, Milingimbi Art & Culture through the decades. They share their insights in particular when someone has passed away on the situation today and the difficulties that and people start posting about it, causing great parents face in raising and disciplining children distress to family members who haven't yet 'heard' and the consequences currently faced in relation in the proper way. to health and wellbeing. The series concludes with

Tropical Cyclone Nora In March Tropical Cyclone Nora, a category 3, The immediate threat was the tidal surge, and traveled across the coast of Arnhem Land on the the decision was made to evacuate the low way to the Culf of Carpenteria. lying communities of Birritjimi and Gunyaŋara as Gapuwiyak Culture & Arts ASRAC Ramingining Miyalk Rangers well as many homelands.

26 ARDS ABORIGINAL CORPORATION | Annual Report 2017-18 ARDS ABORIGINAL CORPORATION | Annual Report 2017-18 27 Our Radio team in Nhulunbuy went into Cyclone exceptionally in both the technical delivery of this Rirrakay Mala event production highlights: mode, with multiple teams working shifts providing vital information as well as their commitment to 24/7 coverage while the cyclone warning was staying on the job until the weather had well and • Garma 2017, Gulkula Languages New Sounds' Album Launch and performance, June 2018, Yirrkala current. Some of our presenters were among truly cleared up and BOM lifted the • Miwatj Health Tackling Indigenous Smoking Events those evacuated, and ended up taking shelter at cyclone warning. May 2018, Ramingining/Milingimbi/ • Rirratjiŋu Aboriginal Corporation's 'No More' the studio which is cyclone rated. This helped In August 2017 ARDS/Yolŋu Radio in Darwin was Galiwin'ku/Nhulunbuy Campaign/White Ribbon anti-domestic violence with our efforts to provide 24/7 coverage, which event, June 2018, Nhulunbuy visited by a group of students from the Cathy • 30 Year Anniversary of 's Treaty, June involved translating and broadcasting in Yolŋu Freeman Foundation keen to know the ins and outs 2018, Biranybirany • 'I Love Yirrkala' Festival and the Yarrapay Concert, Matha every cyclone advice update from the Bureau of Yolŋu Radio. June 2018 at Yirrkala of Meteorology (BOM), as well as making phone • 'Buku-watthunawuy Nininyŋu Rom - Ancient calls to friends and family in affected communities Yolŋu Radio Rirrakay Mala (sound group) have and homelands to double check that everyone been busier than ever, running events right across was aware of the Cyclones movements and had Arnhem Land. This is the first festival season that up to date information. A big part of this process we've had our new 4x4 Truck fully operational, is correctly interpreting BOM cyclone advice which has dramatically improved the economics and rephrasing it using Yolŋu place names and of delivering full production events to almost directions of travel, which is critical information anywhere in Arnhem Land. for people in the homelands. Our team performed

YR Production Team travelling to Galiwin’ku for YR at Miwatj Health Galiwin’ku Festival Miwatj Health festival

Yol u Radio Outside Broadcasts While there are persistent technical challenges to getting a stable broadcast signal out from many corners of Arnhem Land, years of trial and error, research and adaptations have paid off, and we've been getting some of the best results we've ever had running live broadcasts from the

Students from the Cathy Freeman Foundation visit ARDS Fun behind the microphone major communities. Nick O’Riley Live Broadcast Men’s Grand Final Sept 2017 Yirrkala Live Broadcasts in the past year include: • GAFL Women's and Men's Grand Finals 2017 at Yirrkala • Gatjirrk Festival 2017at Milingimbi • International Women's Day Event 2018 at Yirrkala • Miwatj Health Tackling Indigenous Smoking Event at Galiwin'ku • Miwatj Health Tackling Indigenous Smoking Event at Nhulunbuy YR at Biranybirany Memorial Andrew & Sylvia at YR at Garma 2017 • Galiwin'ku Island Festival 2018 at Galiwin'ku Rosalee Grimes & Jess Taylor- Live Broadcast • Garma 2017 held at Gulkula Women’s Grand Final

28 ARDS ABORIGINAL CORPORATION | Annual Report 2017-18 ARDS ABORIGINAL CORPORATION | Annual Report 2017-18 29 YOL|U RADIO FREQUENCIES 2018 Location FM Frequency Location FM Frequency Bälma 90.1 Gurrumuru 89.5

Bäniyala 89.7 Mäpuru 89.5

Ban'thula 89.1 Matamata 89.7

Darwin 88.9 Milingimbi 102.9

Dhälinybuy 90.3 Mirrŋatja 89.7

Dhuruputjpi 88.9 Ŋadayun 88.9

Donydji 90.3 Nhulunbuy 96.5

Galiwin’ku 102.7 Ramingining 102.5 Gängan Rorruwuy Sylvia Nulpinditj - Best Outside Broadcast Best Radio Production Award 89.3 89.3 Gapuwiyak 102.3 Wandawuy 89.1 Awards Garrthalala 89.9 Yirrkala 102.1 Yolŋu Radio/ARDS received two Industry awards at ‘The judges drew attention to the high production the 19th Remote Indigenous Media Festival (25- values, variety of content, engaging vox pops during 30 September 2017) which was held at Irrunytju the live concert creating the sense of being there (Wingellina) community, in WA located near the for the listener and the charismatic presenters who tri-state border of WA, SA and NT. spoke in both Yolŋu and English’ Best Outside Broadcast Award - Garma Festival, Best Radio Production Award - Yolŋu Radio for SUPPORTERS, DONORS AND SPONSORS Yolŋu Radio/ARDS 'Nhaliy dhu Yolŋuy yutjuwala'kum mari beŋur We rely on your help to make a real and lasting contribution to closing the gap for . pokiesŋur?' (Developing Pokies Problem Gambling ARDS would like to thank all the individuals, government and non-government organisations that supported Literacy for Yolŋu) our work in 2017-2018. • Australian Department of the • Laynhapuy Homelands Aboriginal • Developing East Arnhem Limited Prime Minister and Cabinet Corporation (DEAL) www.dpmc.gov.au www.laynhapuy.com.au developingeastarnhem.com.au • Australian Department of • National Indigenous Television • First Nations Media Communications and the Arts (NITV) www.firstnationsmedia.org.au www.arts.gov.au www.sbs.com.au/nitv • James Cook University • NT Department of Chief Minister • Community Broadcasting www.jcu.edu.au www.dcm.nt.gov.au Foundation • Minter Ellison www.cbf.com.au • Department of Trade, Business www.minterellison.com and Innovation (DTBI) • Outback Spirit Tours • Northern Synod www.business.nt.gov.au www.outbackspirittours.com.au www.ns.uca.org.au • Power and Water Corporation • Yothu Yindi Foundation • Rio Tinto Alcan www.powerwater.com.au www.yyf.com.au www.riotinto.com • ALPA (The Arnhem Land Progress • Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation • RMIT Aboriginal Corporation) www.rirratjingu.com www.rmit.edu.au www.alpa.asn.au • Gumatj Aboriginal Corporation • Miwatj Employment www.gumatjcorporation.com www.miwatj.com.au

30 ARDS ABORIGINAL CORPORATION | Annual Report 2017-18 ARDS ABORIGINAL CORPORATION | Annual Report 2017-18 31 OUT 'N' ABOUT IN 2017-2018 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ending 30 June 2018

Aboriginal Resource and Development Services Aboriginal Corporation ABN: 24 609 472 742 Statement Of Profit Or Loss And Other Comprehensive Income For The Year Ended 30 June 2018 Assets and Liabilities For The Year Ended 30 June 2018 2018 2017 2018 2017 NOTE $ $ NOTE $ $ Revenue 2 1,896,761 1,936,571 ASSETS Other income 2 736,910 532,023 CURRENT ASSETS Employee benefits expense (1,199,514) (1,279,307) Cash and cash equivalents 4 808,349 1,137,714 Depreciation and amortisation expense 3 (209,340) (200,793) Accounts receivable and other debtors 5 223,320 300,465 Bad and doubtful debts expense 3 (27,498) - Inventories 6 - 5,733 Repairs, maintenance and vehicle running expenses (33,550) (36,903) Other current assets 7 - 3,168 Fuel, light and power expense (25,809) (26,824) TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 1,031,669 1,447,081 Training expense (13,031) (15,717) NON-CURRENT ASSETS Audit, legal and consultancy fees (495,637) (544,709) Property, plant and equipment 8 1,420,077 1,589,988 Administration expense (20,181) (17,714) TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS 1,420,077 1,589,988 Marketing expenses (15,849) (34,690) TOTAL ASSETS 2,451,746 3,037,069 Client support services expense - - LIABILITIES - - Fundraising expenses - - CURRENT LIABILITIES - - Accounting (186,925) (152,187) Accounts payable and other payables 9 625,955 916,096 Banking Fees (2,762) (2,631) Employee provisions 10 53,636 135,382 Cleaning Fees (21,511) (10,416) TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 679,591 1,051,478 Computer software (8,455) (15,945) Equipment Capital 3,550 - Equipment - Minor Less than $5000 (31,657) (32,494) NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES Fees - inc. Licence & Broadcasting (35,615) (32,162) TOTAL NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES - - Freight & Courier (9,080) (3,811) TOTAL LIABILITIES 679,591 1,051,478 Hire of Equipment (10,237) (64,263) Insurances (21,037) (24,474) NET ASSETS 1,772,156 1,985,590 Landline, Mobiles & Internet (26,976) (29,283) Office Expenses (10,226) (11,747) EQUITY Printing & Stationery (9,011) (30,092) Retained surplus 1,772,156 1,985,590 Rates - Water & Council (16,181) (10,765) Reserves - - Rent (80,160) (31,588) TOTAL EQUITY 1,772,156 1,985,590 Repairs & Maintenance (80,877) (51,274) Repayment of Grant Funding - (15,213) Subscriptions (13,698) (13,975) Travel & Accomodation (232,732) (256,845) The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements. Sundry expenses (13,104) (20,498) Current year surplus before income tax (213,434) (497,725) Net current year surplus (213,434) (497,725)

Other comprehensive income Total comprehensive (loss) / income for the year (213,434) (497,725) Loss attributable to members of the entity (213,434) (497,725) Total comprehensive (loss) / income attributable to members of the entity (213,434) (497,725)

The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements.

34 ARDS ABORIGINAL CORPORATION | Annual Report 2017-18 ARDS ABORIGINAL CORPORATION | Annual Report 2017-18 35

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