GUMALA Aboriginal Corporation

GUMALA
Aboriginal
Corporation
Tom Price (Head Office)
1 Stadium Road, Tom Price
PO Box 61, Tom Price, WA 6751
P: 1800 486 252 F: (08) 9188 1846
Perth (Administration Office)
Level 2, 165 Adelaide Terrace, East Perth WA 6004
PO Box 1367, East Perth, WA 6892
P: (08) 9219 4500 F: (08) 9219 4555
12 April 2012
INFORMATION REGARDING GUMALA ABORIGINAL CORPORATION (ICN: 2744)
Following some recent media interest regarding Gumala Aboriginal Corporation (GAC), GAC wishes to provide key
stakeholders and other interested parties with some factual information about the corporation.
As one of Australia’s leading Indigenous organisations, GAC and its associated enterprises has reported significant growth
over the last four years. Over that same period, GAC has experienced a major corporate restructuring, important reforms, a
strengthening of best-practice capabilities, corporate governance and due diligence consolidation, as well as many other
achievements and milestones.
GAC’s more recent achievements and milestones are contained in the corporation’s latest Annual Report. GAC’s exceptional
financial management performance was formally recognised in this Annual Report by way of an independent unqualified
audit report in all respects of GAC’s financial operations for the 2011 financial year.
GAC has outlaid over $8 million on Member Services Programs during the 2011 financial year. Four years ago, funding
towards Members Services Programs was approximately $1 million. Overall, GAC is expected to distribute approximately $20
million in Member Services funding to GAC Members (and their children) in the 2012 financial year. This is a remarkable
achievement. These programs, spanning Education, Health & Well Being and Lore & Culture, directly benefit the standard of
living, health and education outcomes and quality of life of GAC’s Members.
GAC is experiencing a dramatic “education revolution”. Currently GAC is financially supporting approximately 700 Members
and Beneficiaries via our Education funding programs, including about 450 primary school children, more than 170
secondary school children, over 60 scholarships, and about two dozen tertiary students. GAC has also ramped up its multimillion
dollar Projects stream during the last two years. Total spending on Projects (Community Development, Education and
Lore & Culture) reached $2.5 million in the 2011 financial year, compared to approximately $950,000 during the previous
financial year. This will increase substantially in the 2012 financial year as the housing project, elderly complex project, early
childhood centre project, health needs & analysis project, and community upgrades projects progress.
Recent Project-related achievements include:
• Gumala’s Early Childhood Centre: The Gumala /University of Melbourne joint development of the new 0-5 studio and early
childhood centre is addressing the need for early education and development within GAC’s ‘homeland’ communities.
Working in close partnership with the University of Melbourne and community members, the centre was planned, designed
and built in the community of Wakuthuni, located on Traditional Owner land between Tom Price and Paraburdoo. The early
childhood learning centre has been a major success story since its recent opening.
• The Tom Price Elderly Complex project: GAC is about to commence the procurement process for the construction of
Gumala’s Tom Price Elderly Complex. The project will deliver homes for up to 14 Gumala Elders as well as a day centre and
accommodation for a resident caretaker. The complex will be constructed on vacant land in Tom Price that has been gifted
to Gumala by Rio Tinto.
• Housing Strategy: Gumala’s five-year plan aims to provide 150 homes for GAC Members and their families. GAC has secured
the purchase of land in Tom Price and South Hedland as part of the Gumala Housing Strategy to provide affordable rental
accommodation for Members in the Pilbara region. In South Hedland, GAC hopes to award the contract for the design and
construction of the houses before the end of the 2012 financial year. GAC has also secured a partnership with Melbourne
University for the delivery of the seven houses in Tom Price.
ABN: 93807596843 Website: www.gumala.com.au ICN: 2744
Accounts: accounts@gumala.com.au
Chief Executive Officer: Steve Mav
General: gac@gumala.com.au
Chairman: Keith Hall

Page: 2
• Foundation Housing Agreement: GAC recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Foundation Housing. The
agreement outlines the future role of Foundation Housing in managing the GAC houses following their construction.
Foundation Housing will also play a key role in assisting GAC in developing important policies and procedures with regards to
the maintenance of the houses and tenancy management.
• The Health Needs Analysis Project: GAC and Murdoch University are partners in a Health and Education Needs Analysis of
Gumala Members and their children. The Health and Education Needs Analysis will result in a final plan for both the Mobile
Health Clinic and the implementation of improved school education programs. Murdoch University commenced Phase I of
the Needs Analysis in early 2011, with a final report scheduled to be delivered to Gumala by mid-2012.
• The Capital Works Project - The Capital Works Project is focused on improving existing facilities and installing new facilities at
our remote communities. This includes: Lore Camp Upgrades, Playgrounds, and upkeep of infrastructure and facilities.
• Community Services and Assistance - GAC provides a range of services for our local communities, including: Gumala Radio,
Gumala Bus Services and a range of support and services for our remote communities.
Over recent years, GAC’s Membership growth has been rapid, increasing from approximately 700 to 1200 Members from
2008 to 2011. With major growth comes major change. GAC has recently expanded its Perth office, with several recent
executive and non-executive appointments. GAC’s has also relocated its Perth office to a prestigious Perth CBD address
located in Adelaide Terrace.
In late March 2012 GAC held a highly successful Annual General Meeting (AGM), Special General Meeting (SGM) and Elders
Meeting ‘on country’ at the majestic and iconic Karijini National Park. One of the highlights of the meetings was the
appointment of a new Board of Directors.
Together with the new Board of Directors, the Management and Staff of GAC are committed to providing the highest
possible level of support, governance, internal systems and controls to the ultimate benefit to the Traditional Owners that
GAC serves.
GAC is proud of its recent track record as a reform-driven, Member-based not-for-profit organisation representing the
Nyiyaparli, Banyjima and Innawonga Traditional Owners of the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The corporation looks
forward to future growth opportunities and will continue to achieve positive outcomes which will ultimately benefit the long
term future of the Traditional Owners.
Please visit www.gumala.com.au for further information about GAC, including newsletters, podcasts, etc.
Sincerely
Keith Hall
Chairman
Steve Mav
Chief Executive Officer
ABN: 93807596843 Website: www.gumala.com.au ICN: 2744
Accounts: accounts@gumala.com.au
Chief Executive Officer: Steve Mav
General: gac@gumala.com.au
Chairman: Keith Hall