It gives Bigambul Native Title Aboriginal Corporation (BNTAC) great pleasure to formally advise that we have been successful in obtaining two-year funding from the Commonwealth Government’s Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet (PM&C) to support the establishment, commencement and mobilisation of BNTAC’s first, dedicated office space, which is to be co-located with our first Cultural and Language Centre of its kind for our PBC, and for our Nation more broadly. The co-located office and Cultural and Language Centre space will be based in Goondiwindi – which is the most sizable regional centre in our current Determination Area.
BNTAC have for a long time now prioritised bolstering internal capacity to not only lead by example as an effective, well-governed and quality PBC, but to also be able to establish the resource and capacity base to allow for an ongoing, on-country presence, by way of establishment of a fixed Office/headquarter space; that could ideally be co-located / operated with our own Cultural and Language Centre. The aim is to create not only a base for local employment of Bigambul people, but also a welcoming and culturally safe and inclusive space; that allows both local people (Aboriginal and non-Indigenous) and visitors to our region opportunity to learn more about the history, culture, language and knowledge and traditions of Our people and nation.
BNTAC identify this development as a tremendous outcome that will positively complement and support our growing and increasingly diversified work programs – with strong opportunities existing for this space to positively support and unlock opportunities around:
- Local Aboriginal economic development and employment and training targets and strategies
- BNTAC’s current and ongoing language preservation and rejuvenation program, including through display and access to language resources already in development and to be made available via the Cultural & Language Centre Space
- General profiling of the Bigambul nation’s history and story, as well as our culture, lands and traditional knowledge – supporting not only cultural transmission, but also revival and maintenance
- Profiling and supporting local Bigambul artists our nation’s and country’s storylines
- Supporting local Bigambul capacity and economic development opportunities more generally
BNTAC will be providing routine updates regarding the premises’ establishment, as we move toward establishment and mobilisation of the space. A public community event launch is planned, pending the COVID-19 situation at this time. Keep an eye out on our News and Events pages and the BNTAC Facebook page for latest updates regarding the space – as well as opportunities to get involved.