Yandamah Indigenous Corporation is an ORIC, not for profit, registered charity based in Katherine

Our cross-tribal, multicultural harmony approach with a holistic outlook to delivery, enhances Aboriginal Community participation. This innovative approach assisting, consulting and implementing services and projects offers unparalleled success to our engagements and outcomes.

 

The call from Remote Communities and their organisations to provide practical, hands-on delivery of advice has developed a niche market that has positioned our team to work side by side with development and execution of projects effectively and in the timeline required.

 

Since our humble start in late 2020 we have already employed over 20 people in Remote Communities. Their on-ground presence, and understanding of local knowledge, language, customs and culture ensures a more authentic, accurate and honest engagement with community members, which in turn has allowed us with their collaboration to deliver on the desired outcomes.
When working with Yandamah you’ll find us easy, helpful and practical to engage. Our flexible approach to project consulting, research, ongoing monitoring, analysis and implementation with community-based planning, including respectful protocols and data collection. Our aim is create and maintain long term ongoing relationships with the people living in community, we share, explain and make available our outcomes, with a focus on up skilling our on the ground team members with support, training and understanding the important nature of resource management, business development and governance.

 

Making us the easy choice for co-collaborative outcomes.

Meet Our Awesome Team

BERNADETTE WALLACE

MANAGING DIRECTOR

A founding member of Yandamah, Bernadette has been a long term Katherine resident for over 30yrs. She began her first business in Katherine in 1994 and has continued to build and diversify her business interests over this time.

An active member of the Katherine community, her involvement in sporting clubs and sponsorship continues. She has served as a Aldermen on the Katherine Town Council and has successfully created wellbeing workshops for young at risk females, orchestrated dynamic well attended CDP programs, children activities and disability support.

She has advocated and assisted marginalised people both indigenous, migrants and lower socio economically disadvantaged people by volunteering her time, knowledge and navigating mainstream service applications, successfully helping people meet NDIS Access, Legal Aid, Family Law, Ombudsman, Fairwork Claims.

From a family of 10 children and proud to have ancestral ties to Wadda Wurrung people. Bernadette is passionate about providing wholesome, enjoyable opportunities by empowering people to move forward and make the most of their life.

LOURIE AMATO

SPECIALIST DIRECTOR

Lawrence Amato has worked in finance and corporate governance for almost 20 years and is a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) as well as a Chartered Secretary (ICSA). His experience has taken him from working in many places and sectors including the Australian National University (Canberra, ACT) to Stanbroke Beef (Grantham, QLD) through to Carpentaria Shire Council (Normanton, QLD) and presently in Leeton Shire Council (Leeton, NSW).

URSULA NAPANGARDI MARKS

BOARD MEMBER (Warlpiri)

Ursula Napangardi Marks sits as one of our Warlpiri board members. She is a renowned artist and community relations member in Lajamanu Community, NT. She has a passion for seeing resources for her community properly being disbursed within Lajamanu and not elsewhere.

IAN GUMBULA

Ian Gumbula is a founding Director of Yandamah. After retiring from school teaching, Ian has actively immersed himself in community advocacy. He currently sits on a number of Indigenous Boards and Yandamah is privileged to have him as a sitting Director. He has worked collaboratively with the Federal Department of Families, Housing and Community Services in the Community Engagement Division and Katherine Regional Health on research papers.
His wealth of knowledge & understanding of cultural ways, by addressing the challenging dynamics of community living head on is championed across Arnhem and beyond.

Originally from the Galiwinku community and now living in Ngukurr with his wife Mercy and a number of grandchildren, he’s a family man at heart, with a strong vision for the younger generation to thrive and achieve all they seek to be.

MATTHEW HURLEY

I’m Mathew James Harley. I’ve lived in Katherine for ten years. I have an extensive background in hospitality, customer service, retail, and local government. During my time as a councilman and a community citizen, I’ve witnesses various issues within the community. I observed the challenges that affect the indigenous population in the community. I’ve seen an increase in poverty and homelessness with continued failed attempts to address the issues. I am proud to be married to an indigenous woman! Yandamah’s cross tribal culture and inclusiveness to board members has allowed me to embrace my gifts and talents that have in the past been labelled a disability.

I love Katherine and look forward to the opportunity working with Yandamah to help my community progress forward

JERRY AMATO

PROJECTS MANAGER

Jerry has over 20 years experience in Mining, Oil & Gas, from Land Access consultation and agreements to Operations and Project Management. During this time he has gained a wealth of knowledge in the industry and can be relied upon to provide sound unbiased advice and direction when dealing with all parties involved. More recently Jerry has become involved in managing remote NT Civil and Construction projects from conception, community consultation, dealing and negotiating with Land Councils through Procurement to delivery.

SALLY MACKANDE

CHAIRPERSON

Bio Coming Soon

STELLA HURLEY

I am an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander woman and a proud mother of 4 kids. I’ve been married to my husband Matthew for 7 years. I’ve grown up in Katherine my whole life. I’ve enjoyed my schooling and lifestyle here. Being apart of the Yandamah board will enable me to contribute to my community. I will be able to nurture my heart for children’s activities, family activities, and even community activities along with so much more.

I look forward to many more opportunities with Yandamah as we continue to foster new cultural bonds.

Yandamah Indigenous Corporation is an ORIC, not for profit, registered charity based in Katherine, that offers its services to the remote and rural communities of the NT. Our expertise lies in the ability to effectively facilitate, manage, coordinate and organise skilled people to implement community projects and programs.

The teams focus is to enhance capacity while having fun. The activities provided; by nature, identify the potential of emerging leaders as well highlight the dis-engaged, troubled youth. From there they are able to design and bespoke mentoring or leadership activities for the different cohorts of youth, whilst building genuine relationships and trust with the local community.

Are you interested in working with our team? We would love for you to volunteer for a Yandamah project. Tap the button below to get in touch with our team.

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