About Us « klc.org.au

The Role of the KLC

The Kimberley Land Council Aboriginal Corporation (KLC) represents Traditional Owners in the Kimberley region.

The KLC’s organisational goals are to assist Kimberley Aboriginal people in getting country back, caring for country, and securing the future.

The KLC was established in 1978 at a meeting of Kimberley Aboriginal people following a dispute between Kimberley Traditional Owners , the Western Australian Government, and a large mining company at Noonkanbah.

The KLC was charged with the responsibility to do everything in its power to protect traditional land and waters. To protect, enhance and gain formal status (legal, social and political) for the customs, laws and traditions of Kimberley Traditional Owners.

Native Title Representative Body

The KLC is the Native Title Representative Body for the Kimberley region. since May 2000, when the Federal Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs recognised the KLC under s.203AD of the Native Title Act, 1993 (Cth) (NTA).

As a Native Title Representative Body, the KLC’s operations are funded primarily, but not exclusively, by the Land Branch of the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA).

Role and Functions

Legislative Functions:

Facilitation and assistance
Certification
Dispute resolution
Notification
Agreement making
Internal review
Other functions as per the Native Title Act, 1993

In accordance with these functions, the KLC assists Aboriginal people to obtain recognition of, and fully enjoy, their native title rights and interests.

Managing Change

The KLC is conscious of the dynamic change taking place in contemporary Aboriginal society, and emphasises the role of Kimberley Traditional Owners, our members, and communities in managing that change. The KLC is dedicated to the development of a modern, sophisticated and innovative service to our members and the community.

Executive Board

An elected 32 member Board determines the organisation’s priorities in all policy and operational matters. The Board is made up of one representative from each of the native title claim groups in the Kimberley.

Claim groups nominate a representative for appointment to the Board every two years and elections from these nominations take place at the Annual General Meeting.

The general membership also appoints four Kimberley Traditional Owners as Directors. These Directors are appointed by their peers on the basis of experience, special knowledge and contribution to the organisation’s objectives.

The Board, through the position of the Executive Director, monitors the progress of native title applications, and oversees the conduct of the organisation’s affairs.

Board members are not paid.

CEO

The Chief Executive Officer has responsibility for the day to day operation and administration of the organisation.

Chief Executive Officer is assisted in discharging this responsibility by a management team and staff with diverse skills and experience. The work associated with the various functions of the organisation is undertaken by teams consisting of native title officers, legal officers, land and sea management staff, administrative support staff and others located in Broome, Derby, Fitzroy Crossing and Kununurra.

Improving cultural, social and economic outcomes

The KLC is engaged in many projects that further the outcomes of Kimberley Aboriginal people.

Beyond the work of native title determinations, the KLC runs many projects across the Kimberley that work with Traditional Owners to manage environmental impacts on country, secure basics like appropriate housing and drinking water for communities, and to facilitate and negotiate agreements as part of successful native title determinations.

Our operational teams work to secure outcomes in the following areas:

-Native Title Services

-Legal Unit

-Land and Sea Management.

-Agreements/Regional Solutions