Illawarra Aboriginal Community Based Working Group

The Illawarra Aboriginal Community Based Working Group (IACBWG) was established over four years ago as an initiative of local Aboriginal people in the Illawarra region.

The purpose of the IACBWG is to open up the lines of communication between government departments and the local Aboriginal community. The Group exists as a key means for participation by Aboriginal people in exploring, identifying and mapping needs and issues of importance and also developing appropriate strategies.

The IACBWG asprires to ensuring that all the Illawarra region’s Aboriginal people and communities are empowered, self-managed and self-sufficient, and that Government responds actively to ensure that Aboriginal people have proper access to service provision as a basic right.

The Group have recently appointed an Aboriginal Regional Coordinator to provide a critical link between the Aboriginal community, government and non-government organisations, and the private sector.  A major part of the Aboriginal Regional Coordinator’s role is to coordinate and finalise the Regional Partnership Agreement between the IACBWG and federal and state governments. The Agreement will set out the basis for cooperation to achieve improved outcomes for the Aboriginal people of the Illawarra region.

Membership of the IACBWG is open to Aboriginal community members, Aboriginal Elders, Traditional Owners, Aboriginal organisations, non-government and government agencies.  There are currently over eighty members of the IACBWG and anyone interested in participating should contact the organisation.

For further information

Contact	:	Rebecca Simon
Phone	:	02 4221 6919
Mobile	:	0414 878 471
Email	:	iacbwg.coordinator@environment.nsw.gov.au