PBC - Elders & Youth Council Governance - Karratha, WA

Client: Ngarluma Aboriginal Corporation (NAC)

Year: May 2025

Project Overview

NAC engaged Wander to develop Terms of Reference for both its Elders Council and Youth Council, supporting the organisation to establish clear and culturally appropriate governance structures for the newly formed Councils.

The project focused on strengthening representation, leadership and decision-making across generations, while ensuring each Council had a clearly defined role, purpose and operational structure within the broader organisation.

Governance Framework Development

Wander developed separate Terms of Reference for the Elders Council and Youth Council, recognising the distinct role each group would play within NAC’s broader governance and leadership environment.

The Elders Council framework focused on supporting:

• cultural authority;

• guidance; and

• representation within organisational decision-making.

  
  

This ensured Elders had a clear and respected role in conversations relating to culture, heritage and community priorities.

In parallel, the Youth Council framework was designed to support:

• emerging leadership;

• participation; and

• future governance capacity-building.

  
  

The framework created a structured pathway for younger members to contribute perspectives, build confidence and engage meaningfully in organisational discussions and decision-making processes.

Practical & Culturally Responsive Governance

While document-based, the work required careful consideration of:

• governance clarity;

• cultural appropriateness;

• leadership pathways;

• community representation; and

• the practical realities of participation.

  
  

This included varying levels of experience, availability and operational capacity across both groups.

Wander’s approach focused on balancing strong governance principles with accessible and easy-to-understand language, ensuring the frameworks were practical, usable and capable of supporting long-term implementation without becoming overly technical or rigid.

The Outcome

This project highlights Wander’s strength in governance design, organisational structure and culturally informed strategic thinking, helping organisations develop governance frameworks that are both practically effective and responsive to community context, representation and future leadership development.