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City of Kwinana

Shaping the future of Kwinana through the Boola Maara Consultative Committee

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People’s strong connection to family, land, language, and culture forms the foundation for social, economic, and individual wellbeing. In recent years around Australia, local government consultation with Aboriginal residents has facilitated genuine and meaningful input into council decision-making and community participation.

One of the first Aboriginal consultative committees of its kind in WA is the Boola Maara (Many Hands) Aboriginal Consultative Committee (BMACC) in the Perth suburb of Kwinana, with a dedicated approach to making sure Aboriginal voices are truly heard and valued within the local government structure.

Census data shows that the City of Kwinana has the highest percentage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in the Perth metropolitan area, at 4.4 percent, highlighting the importance for a consultative committee like the BMACC.

How the Boola Maara was formed

The BMACC formed in May 2023 following a decision by the City of Kwinana Council to elevate what was originally known as the Boola Maara Advisory Group (BMAG), to a special consultative committee.

With the BMAG originally established in 2018, its role initially centred around the development of a Community Engagement Plan aimed at gathering feedback on the City’s Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan.

The City’s CEO soon recognised the valuable contributions of BMAG and proposed that it be established as a formal consultative committee. Over the next 12 months, the CEO engaged BMAG in discussions to explore the implications of this change. This allowed BMAG to share their insights on the new role and the support they would need, providing ample time for reflection and involvement.

 

Now, as a consultative committee, Boola Maara’s role has expanded significantly. A co-created terms of reference defines their contribution, which includes: 

  • Providing the Council with Aboriginal perspectives and advice on governance issues affecting the Kwinana community. 
  • Reviewing Council strategies and initiatives through the lens of cultural, environmental, and community wellbeing.
  • Facilitating dialogue and recommending ways to enhance engagement, accessibility, and understanding of Aboriginal culture within Kwinana.

The BMACC comprises a minimum of six and a maximum of 11 people, made up of five Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Elders, four Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander leaders and two City of Kwinana elected members.

 

Recent projects and initiatives informed by the Boola Maara

The BMACC meetings, held in the City of Kwinana’s Council Chambers, continue to empower the Committee by offering a robust platform for sharing their perspectives. These meetings feature updates on local initiatives and provide reports for the BMACC’s input before they are presented to Council. Some of the local initiatives informed by the BMACC include: