INSTITUTE FOR ABORIGINAL DEVELOPMENT

 

 


News Room

IAD’S NEW CONSTITUTION REFLECTS ABORIGINALITY

14 April 2004

Members of Central Australia’s oldest indigenous adult education provider, the Institute for Aboriginal Development (IAD), have today voted at a special general meeting to strengthen the organisation’s indigenous membership as part of changes to its constitution.

In line with the Institute’s aim of enhancing the self-determination of Aboriginal people, members voted to restrict the membership of individuals to Aboriginal people.   

Members also amended the constitution to permit the IAD Board to appoint only Indigenous members. 

Non-Indigenous corporations or associations similar to the IAD will still be eligible for membership. 

The Board’s Deputy Chair, Owen Cole said: “As an organisation controlled by and for Indigenous people we collectively felt it was time to strengthen our constitution to reflect this in our membership so we can continue to address the needs of Aboriginal people in a culturally-sensitive and responsive way.”

Members of the IAD have attended today’s special meeting and annual general meeting in Alice Springs to pass the new constitution and review the organisation’s achievements during the previous year. 

The Chair of the IAD Board, Graeme Smith said: “The focus for this year will be on building relationships with remote communities and delivering quality education in a flexible environment that matches employment opportunities on the ground.”

 “At our headquarters in Alice Springs, the opening of Stage 1 of the new IAD campus later this year will provide a state-of-the-art learning environment for students. It will also include a library and cafeteria which we hope will be a great resource for the whole community,” he said.

The IAD Director, Eileen Shaw said: “Our Board, staff and students have a lot to be proud of in the past year. In particular: 

  • The expansion of nationally-accredited training courses to include Driver Training and Licensing; Certificate Levels Preliminary, I and II in Literacy; Certificate Levels I-IV in Business Studies and Certificate Level II in Horticulture.
  • The preservation of language and culture through IAD Press and Jukurrpa Books, including the Arrernte Colouring Book, A town like Mparntwe and the first installment of a ground-breaking educational initiative, The Central Anmatyerr Picture Dictionary. The life and art of Central Australian identity Wenton Rubuntja was also beautifully captured in the town grew up dancing.
  • The growth of the Arrernte in Schools Program and participation of non-Aboriginal people in Arrernte and Pitjantjatjarra language courses.”

“We are looking forward to working with communities across Central Australia and beyond this year to enhance IAD’s reputation as a leading provider of Indigenous adult education and as a centre for cultural preservation,” Mrs Shaw said.

For media enquiries or a copy of the 2003 Annual Report, please contact Kirsty Nancarrow on 08 8951 1379 or 0400 130 634. For more information about IAD courses, language programs, publications or cultural awareness initiatives, please contact the reception on 08 8951 1311. 

                                                                                                           


 

Copyright © Institute for Aboriginal Development 2004                               

IAD is a registered training organisation (National code: 0167)

3 South Terrace Alice Springs  phone: 08 8951 1311  fax: 08 8953 1884  Email: general.info@iad.edu.au
 

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