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Olabud Doogethu Aboriginal Corporation splits from Halls Creek Shire over rollout of youth justice program

Sarah CrawfordThe Kimberley Echo
The Mibala Learning on Country course is intended to give participants a connection to culture.
Camera IconThe Mibala Learning on Country course is intended to give participants a connection to culture. Credit: Olabud Doogethu

It was lauded as an example of Aboriginal empowerment, a community-led program to tackle high rates of youth crime in Halls Creek.

But aspirations for a community-led program with millions of dollars in funding to tackle youth crime appears to have collapsed after Olabud Doogethu Aboriginal Corporation (ODAC) and the Shire of Halls Creek split recently in an acrimonious war of words.

Paperwork lodged with the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations revealed Shire Director of Youth and Community Development, Margaret Glass, has been removed as secretary of ODAC.

ODAC has also removed several directors who were employed by the Shire to run the youth program including strategic team leaders Arron Little and Dean Mosquito.

The paperwork lodged shows ODAC has no income, grants, assets, or employees.

Olabud director Rose Stretch said it was the Corporation’s decision to split from the Shire because of a lack of communication with directors about the youth program’s work or success rates.

“(We left) because they didn’t communicate with us as directors of Olabud Doogethu,” Ms Stretch said.

“We want to move away from the Shire so we the community can run it ourselves, the Aboriginal people.”

Members of the Halls Creek Olabud Doogethu night crew pictured on the Great Northern Highway. (L-R) Isaiah Rogers, Carlene Calwyn, Reko Yeeda. Jermayne Hunter, Laurel Tremlett and Seth Lawlor.
Camera IconMembers of the Halls Creek Olabud Doogethu night crew pictured on the Great Northern Highway. (L-R) Isaiah Rogers, Carlene Calwyn, Reko Yeeda. Jermayne Hunter, Laurel Tremlett and Seth Lawlor. Credit: Jackson Flindell/The West Australian

In Halls Creek youth crime is stubbornly high and school attendance rates are low.

In the first three months of this year, 20 cars were reported stolen. Last month six cars were stolen over two weekends and teachers’ homes were ransacked.

In a statement, the Shire of Halls Creek said the split was disappointing for everyone and they were now looking for another Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation to come on board.

“December 2023 the relationship between the Shire of Halls Creek and the Olabud Doogethu Aboriginal Corporation became strained, which was a disappointing outcome for all involved,” the statement read.

“The Shire provided as many resources as possible to support the growth of this ACCO, but unfortunately no progress was made.

“The Olabud Doogethu justice reinvestment project and all intellectual property and assets are owned, and have been funded by the Shire, since 2018.

“Discussions are currently underway to formalise the split between the Shire and the Corporation. Where possible, we welcome a new ACCO in Halls Creek to work alongside the project.”

The youth diversion program has so far been funded by the Shire of Halls Creek with the assistance of multi-million dollar grants from State and Federal governments as well as private philanthropic organisations.

The WA Department of Justice has a $1.5M funding agreement with the Shire of Halls Creek for its “On Track” youth diversion program.

The Shire also signed a $2.7M contract with the Paul Ramsay Foundation in 2022 to grow the program.

However, both contracts required the Shire to work to establish Olabud Doogethu Aboriginal Corporation so the community organisation could eventually run the program independently.

Most recently the Shire of Halls Creek has received an undisclosed funding grant from the Federal Government to create community justice groups.

This will involve the communities of Balgo, Billiluna, Mulan, Ringer Soak, Warmun, Red Hill, Mardiwah Loop, Yardgee, and Nicholson Block.

A Department of Justice spokesperson said they did not discuss operational or financial details of grant agreements.

“The Department will continue to work with the Shire of Halls Creek to ensure the delivery of essential youth programs to the community.”

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