Mabo Centre opens to drive economic empowerment

A new First Nations-led partnership between the National Native Title Council and the University of Melbourne, has been launched in Boorloo (Perth) to promote research and capability into native title agreements.

The Mabo Centre https://mabocentre.com/ will support Traditional Owner groups and First Nations organisations to enable better economic outcomes through leveraging land and sea rights.

It aims to maximise the economic, social, and cultural benefits of these rights by building leadership skills and knowledge for successful agreement-making. The Mabo Centre will support First Nations youth to become community leaders and drive economic change in their communities.

The Centre’s name honours the legacy of renowned land and sea rights activist Eddie Koiki Mabo. The 1992 Mabo decision led to the recognition and protection of native title across Australia through the introduction of the Native Title Act.

“The standards in agreements range from below civil and human rights to good practice,” Professor Marcia Langton AO, Foundation Chair of Australian Indigenous Studies at the University of Melbourne and Co-Chair of the Mabo Centre Advisory Board, said.

Professor Marcia Langton

“You’ll find that out of lack of information, Traditional Owners have signed away their rights in Indigenous Land Use Agreements, which are binding documents registered in the federal court.

“How do we resolve these issues? And how do we advise people and advocate for people so that they don’t sign away their rights? They need information, good, clear, impartial information.”

The Mabo Centre will foster leadership, and expertise, and knowledge sharing to bring Traditional Owner groups together to learn from each other and drive economic development opportunities through land and sea rights.