The Northern Land Council's Learning on Country program, Tasmania's Melythina Tiakana Warrana Aboriginal Corporation and Western Australia's Djarindjin Aboriginal Corporation have been announced as year's Indigenous Governance Awards recipients.

Held every second year since 2005, the Awards, a joint initiative of Reconciliation Australia, the Australian Indigenous Governance Institute, and the BHP Foundation were announced on Wednesday as part of the National Reconciliation Action Plan Conference in Meanjin/Brisbane.

They celebrate the strength, innovation and governance capacity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations across Australia.

The outstanding examples of governance in Indigenous-led non-incorporated initiatives or projects category was awarded to the Northern Land Council's Learning on Country (LoC) program.

Established in 2013 as a joint initiative between Aboriginal ranger groups and schools across 17 Top End (NT) remote communities, LoC's 'both ways' learning supports students to achieve training and educational qualifications and employment outcomes, while supporting intergenerational transfer of knowledge and culture. 

The program's governance structure also ensures  Aboriginal ownership and control through local community committees and a steering committee. 

The outstanding examples of governance in Indigenous-led small to medium incorporated category was awarded to northeast Tasmania's Melythina Tiakana Warrana Aboriginal Corporation (MTWAC).

MTWAC is governed by a board of nine directors who operate with a Circle of Elders providing oversight, cultural advice and ensuring cultural integrity. 

The community organisation was established in 2008 by a group of Elders determined to reclaim their people's place as the original people of Tasmania.

Western Australia's Djarindjin Aboriginal Corporation (Djarindjin) received the outstanding examples of governance in Indigenous-led large, incorporated organisations award.

Established as a defiant act of self-determination by Bardi and Jawi people escaping the control of missions in the 1980s, Djarindjin has become largely self-funded, with revenue from its airport funding a variety of community programs.

Djarindjin's vision for the future is to be financially sustainable, with future generations empowered by self-determination.

Reconciliation Australia CEO, Karen Mundine said the Indigenous Governance Program is one of the most important endeavours that Reconciliation Australia is involved in.

"It is no surprise to me that the Indigenous Governance Awards 2024 winners are effectively tackling some of the hardest issues facing our society today," Ms Mundine said.

"They refuse to see our lives and our communities through a deficit lens; but instead apply strengths-based ways of thinking to what are sometimes known in external circles as intractable problems.

"The strength of all our finalists fills me with confidence in the future."

Other Indigenous Governance Awards category finalists included Loddon Mallee Aboriginal Reference Group (VIC), Wintjiri Wiru Working Group (NT), Mibbinbah Spirit Healing (QLD), Voice of Hope Aboriginal Corporation (WA), Wajarri Yamaji Aboriginal Corporation (WA) and Granites Mine Affected Area Aboriginal Corporation (NT).