Meetings at Waltja

Waltja Tjutangku Palyapayi Aboriginal Corporation holds regular board meetings throughout the year. All policy and strategic planning decisions are made at board meetings.

Meeting protocol
At the start of each meeting, an executive member explains why a matter is important and needs to be talked about. Waltja’s manager or staff may also give some background information. Often, visitors will present information for the directors to discuss. Correspondence is tabled at every meeting.

Decision making at meetings
The board makes decisions by listening and talking together. Directors may sometimes break into language groups for discussion and then report back to the whole group.

Waltja aims for consensus decisions but may use voting if a consensus is not reached. Unresolved issues are generally carried forward to the next meeting, where additional information is provided.

Waltja’s directors declare any conflict of interest and stand down from decision-making when a conflict of interest might arise.

Speaking in language
Talking in meetings is usually in several languages: English, Warlpiri, Luritja, Western Arrernte, Eastern Arrernte, Pintupi, Kaytetye Anmatyerre, Alyawarre and Pitjantjatjara. All of Waltja’s directors are multilingual in the region’s Aboriginal languages and speak and understand English.

“All Directors are encouraged by the Chairperson to have input and decisions are made by consensus. The Board of Directors has their own code of conduct, as drawn up by the Directors, regarding meeting protocols and these are adhered to. Directors are treated with respect at all times.”
– Waltja Tjutangku Palyapayi Aboriginal Corporation¹Australian Indigenous Governance Institute and Reconciliation Australia, Voices of Our Success: Sharing the Stories and Analysis from the 2014 Indigenous Governance Awards (Sydney, 2016), 60.