Our partners

Our current activities

The Aurora Project is the collective name for a number of programs that work with Australia's Indigenous communities and organisations to facilitate prosperity through capacity building.
To achieve this, the Project focuses on professional development in law, anthropology, research, management, education and other disciplines.

'Aurora' is the Latin word for the goddess of dawn and symbolises renewal and rejuvenation. The five interlinking circles of our logo evoke figures joining hands, representing entities working together, motivated by a shared vision.

The Aurora Project developed following the launch in April 2005 of the 'Report Into the Professional Development Needs of Native Title Representative Body (NTRB*) Lawyers'. We are working with the Commonwealth Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) and Rio Tinto to implement many of the recommendations made in the April 2005 Report.

The Project is also undertaking a three-module pilot executive management program for Indigenous current and future managers in the Miwatj region of North East Arnhem Land. The program aims to enhance the capacity of managers of Australian Indigenous organisations in the Miwatj region to develop sustainable business activities through the provision of managerial competencies relevant to managing projects, organisations and communities in the area.
 
April 2005 NTRB Report
Executive Summary of Report only
 
* Note that the term Native Title Representative Bodies (NTRBs) includes Native Title Service Providers receiving specific funding to perform some NTRB functions.

	Our Partners:
	FaHCSIA engaged Monash University to deliver staff development, support and other services to NTRBs across Australia in 2006. The Aurora Project team is working closely with NTRBs, Indigenous policy and other organisations, FaHCSIA and Monash to deliver these products and services which are summarised below.
	The Castan Centre for Human Rights which focuses on human rights law, globally, regionally and in Australia, has worked with the Aurora Project team since 2004.
	Rio Tinto, a world leader in mining and minerals processing, is helping to fund the administration of our student placement program through to the end of 2008. Rio Tinto also funds the annual NTRB Scholarship, administered by the Aurora Project team.
	The University of New South Wales in Sydney is providing the Project team with office space in Coogee and other administrative assistance through to November 2008.
	The Australian Indigenous Studies Program at the University of Melbourne and Professor Marcia Langton, the Inaugural Chair of the Program, have worked with the Aurora Project team since 2004. A number of our student interns are graduates of Indigenous studies units in this program. The program incorporates the Agreements, Treaties and Negotiated Settlements’ Project which links current information, historical detail and published material relating to agreements made between Indigenous people and others in Australia and overseas.
	Australian National University (through the ANU College of Law and the School of Archaeology and Anthropology) is providing support to the placements program.
	Allens Arthur Robinson (AAR), a national law firm, funds four student placements annually. The students are chosen from AAR's summer clerks.
	Gilbert + Tobin, a Sydney-based law firm, funds two internships annually.The students are chosen from G+T's summer clerks.
	The University of Technology, Sydney is providing support to the placements program.
	The Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM), a leading provider of executive development and management programs in Australia – in 2007 and 2008, the Aurora Project has worked with AGSM on the provision of an executive development program for senior management at NTRBs. In 2008, AGSM and Aurora are delivering in Nhulunbuy a three-module pilot executive management program for Indigenous current and future managers in the Miwatj region of North East Arnhem Land.
	Bendelta is working with the Aurora Project on delivering programs for middle management staff within NTRBs.

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Our current activities include:

	Administering a student placement program that places law, anthropology and social sciences students at NTRBs, NTSPs and Indigenous policy organisations around Australia during the summer and winter university breaks.
	Staff training and professional development programs for NTRBs developed in consultation with NTRBs, that focus on addressing training and professional development needs of NTRB staff.
	Developing a NTRB staff handbook.
	Administering a scholarship program, in conjunction with Rio Tinto, which offers practising lawyers the chance to study for a Masters degree in mining law at the University of Dundee in Scotland. Successful recipients must commit to work within the native title system for at least two years upon returning to Australia.
	Promoting native title work and NTRB career opportunities including promoting and coordinating secondment arrangements between employers and NTRBs.
	Maintaining a register of lawyers, counsel and anthropologists with experience in native title matters.
	Establishing a locum service for short and long-term placements at NTRBs in critical need areas.
	Developing a model performance evaluation and learning needs assessment tool for NTRBs.
	Undertaking a needs analysis into professional mentoring for NTRB research and anthropology staff.
	Undertaking a pilot management training program in the Northern Teritory for Indigenous managers and leaders.