Self-determination and community control

The Murdi Paaki Regional Assembly (MPRA) is comprised of the Chairs or representatives of 16 Aboriginal Community Working Parties (CWP’s) across the Murdi Paaki Region of NSW.

MPRA see self-determination as the key success to their governance model. Their model demonstrates true community control as the Aboriginal people of the region determine the composition of their local CWP, they choose the methods to bring that model together and they choose who represents them on the Regional Assembly. People volunteer their time and those who participate are genuinely interested in making a change for their communities. The model is evolutionary; it’s not competitive leadership but a traditional style of leadership where leadership roles are earned through respect, integrity and transparency.

Governance Structure

The Murdi Paaki Regional Assembly (MPRA) is comprised of the Chairs or representatives of 16 Aboriginal Community Working Parties (CWP’s) across the Murdi Paaki Region of NSW.

The Murdi Paaki Regional Assembly has 100% Aboriginal membership. The Chairs or the representatives of the 16 Aboriginal Community Working Parties are Aboriginal people of the region, as is the independent Chair. The Assembly is governed by a “Charter of Governance” which, in the absence of legislative arrangements or incorporation law, provides the regulation, the goals and objectives, the functions and principles which the Assembly operates to.

The Chairs of the CWPs who comprise the Assembly are elected by their communities. CWPs have a structure that is representative of their community and derive their membership from Aboriginal community members and Aboriginal organisations from within that community. At the local level CWPs engage with both the State and Federal Governments, Local Government and service providers to Aboriginal people.