Governance issues have been addressed by one of WA's biggest Noongar corporations after a federal examination led to warnings over repeated breaches.

Southern Aboriginal Corporation (SAC) services thousands of people in Noongar communities across 120,000 sqkm of the Great Southern, South West, Wheatbelt and Perth regions, including regional hubs Bunbury, Denmark and Albany - where the organisation is based.

The Aboriginal community-controlled organisation was issued an order by ORIC in April last year to open its books for NSW-based Hall Chadwick, to review SAC corporate governance and financial standards since July 2021.

The examination checked if SAC was governed in accordance with the CATSI Act and the rules of the corporation, and whether directors had complied with obligations.

CATSI registrar delegate Kevin Vu said although the standard of corporate governance was generally sound, "some breaches of the Act and rules of the corporation require attention by the directors".

These included the "important" and ongoing breach of the requirement of having at least seven board members. At the time of ORIC's warning SAC had only five board members, including brothers David Colbung and board chairman Daniel Colbung, after their other brother Brett departed, along with Peter Jetta in November 2023 and Peter Chair in February 2024.

Other CATSI and related breaches from the ORIC examination included minutes of directors' meetings since July 2021 not being signed by the chair of the meeting within reasonable time; the minutes of the AGMs for the years ended 30 June 2021 and 30 June 2022 not being signed by the chair of the meeting, or the chair of the next meeting, within a reasonable time after each meeting; and, contrary to section 246-10 of the CATSI Act and rule 5.5, the corporation did not obtain a signed consent, to act as a director of the corporation, from each of the current directors prior to their appointment – but after it.

SAC chief executive and board secretary Asha Bhat told National Indigenous Times the Corporation had updated processes to ensure minutes were signed, and was also now compliant with the minimum director requirements.

"We remain committed to transparency and delivering this project effectively," she said.

Noongar members and other Indigenous leaders in the region SAC covers expressed concerns to National Indigenous Times last year about the organisation's alleged lack of leadership and engagement.

Ms Bhat told this publication late last year she was unaware of community concerns over SAC's governance, or its delivery of vital services and programs to Noongar communities.

Last month the Corporation was approved $5.2m of Commonwealth funding under the WA: Growing Regions Program for a project to develop the 'Kairli Cultural and Language Centre' in Albany, which will also become SAC's new administration base once complete.

Its application stated the project funding was for a Noongar language and healing centre, art gallery, and an Indigenous enterprise development hub, while SAC administration staff would also relocate to the new building.

National Indigenous Times asked SAC how much of the $5.2m in federal funding would be allocated to constructing its new admin offices, and for details about the Noongar cultural centre and enterprise development hub.

Ms Bhat said last week detailed project costings were still being finalised.

"The Indigenous enterprise development hub will support local businesses," she said.