Council employs a Community Development Officer – Aboriginal to work with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. To contact a member of the Community Development Team, please call (02) 6670 2400 or 1300 292 872 or email tsc@tweed.nsw.gov.au.
View related Policies and Strategic Documents, including the Reconciliation Action Plan (1.92mB PDF).
Events and Activities Supported
NAIDOC Week
NAIDOC is a celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and an opportunity to recognize the contributions of Indigenous Australians in various fields. Activities take place across the nation during NAIDOC Week in the first full week of July. All Australians are encouraged to participate.
View the Tweed Heads NAIDOC Program 2019 (332kB PDF) for the Tweed Shire.
Committees, Interagency, Networks and Working Groups
The Community Development Officer – Aboriginal attends the following groups to facilitate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community development across the Shire.
Aboriginal Advisory Committee
Council recognises that in accordance with the adopted Terms of Reference for the Aboriginal Advisory Committee (AAC) which includes representation from a range of Aboriginal community groups and organisations including; the Tweed/Byron Local Aboriginal Land Council; Tweed/Wollumbin Aboriginal Education Consultative Group; Tweed Aboriginal Cooperative Society; Canowindra Aged Care Facility; Tweed Corporation for Sport (Stingrays); Bugalwena Aboriginal Health service and other community representatives who may provide advice and input when required.
The primary objective of the AAC is to provide advice to Council in order to encourage and facilitate the development of the Tweed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community in the Tweed Shire. The committee meets on the first Friday of the month.
In accordance with the adopted Terms of Reference members of the AAC need to be:
- Active and acknowledged members of the Tweed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community.
- Willing to work with a diverse range of people and work towards the development of common goals.
- Residents of the Tweed Shire.
- Nominated by the relevant groups.
Tweed Goori Interagency
The Tweed Goori Interagency meeting is a networking forum held every eight weeks for community service organisations working in the Tweed with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) community to catch up, offer advice and support as well share information on programs and initiatives undertaken by their respective organisations. The Goori Interagency also serves to disseminate this information through this network of Tweed Shire ATSI service providers.
Wollumbin Consultative Group
Wollumbin (comprising the Mount Warning mountain complex) has been a sacred place of great significance to the people of Bundjalung and other Aboriginal groups since time immemorial. Wollumbin, along with other significant sites in its surrounds, provides a traditional place of cultural law, initiation and spiritual education.
The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) - Northern Rivers Region, has formally committed to working co-operatively with representatives of the local Aboriginal community in the management of Wollumbin National Park (NP), and Wollumbin State Conservation Area (SCA). The Consultative Group provides a formal process in which the representatives of the Aboriginal community can have real and meaningful involvement in management of these reserves.
The Consultative Group makes recommendations to the Regional Manager, Northern Rivers Region NPWS on the plan of management for Wollumbin NP and Wollumbin SCA and any future amendments to the existing adopted Plan of Management for Mount Warning National Park. The Consultative Group also makes recommendations on education and interpretative policies, operational issues including work programs and co-management options.
The establishment and operation of the Group is governed by Guidelines which are similar to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Members include representatives from Local Aboriginal Land Councils, the Bundjalung Elders Council and adjacent Native Title Claimants, family groups with a cultural interest in Wollumbin, Northern Rivers Region NPWS and the Cultural Heritage Division of Office of Environment and Heritage.
Policy and Strategic Documents
Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management Plan
Council is developing an Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management Plan (ACHMP). The ACHMP will be developed over 1-2 years and will involve extensive consultation with local Aboriginal people and the wider community. For further information visit .
Aboriginal Statement
The Aboriginal Statement, developed in consultation with the Aboriginal Advisory Committee provides Council's acknowledgement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples was adopted 13 November 2007.
Download the Aboriginal Statement of Commitment Policy (63kB PDF).
Reconciliation Action Plan
Council has developed a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), the first ever developed between the Tweed Shire Council and the Aboriginal Advisory Committee to Council. The plan marks the first stage of commitments from Council to the Aboriginal community to act in good faith, to recognise the significance of the Aboriginal communities’ long standing and special place in the Tweed, to continue the process to redress the wrongs of the past and those still being inflicted on Aboriginal people, and to work with the community to treasure this ancient, long standing culture and Country.
Download the Reconciliation Action Plan (1.92mB PDF).
Strategic Documents
Council’s Community Development Officer – Aboriginal is working closely with the Aboriginal Advisory Committee to develop the following documents for consideration of Council:
- Issues Paper
- Aboriginal Employment Strategy