Glossary

A Traditional Owner is defined under Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) as referring to Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander individuals or groups who can demonstrate a connection to land or waters based on their traditional laws and customs. These rights and interests in land and waters predate European settlement and are recognised under Australian law as native title.  In the context of engagement and building partnerships you may refer to a Traditional Owner as an individual or group with a strong spiritual, cultural, and historical connection to a specific area of land, often including the rights to hunt and gather on that land. This connection is typically based on traditional law and customs passed down through generations. 

You may also see the term interchanged with a Traditional Custodian or Custodian or First Peoples.  This can be as some people as the term Traditional Owner can exclude Aboriginal peoples who may not have formal recognition for their Country.  It also has been suggested that the term custodian better reflects the belief that we don’t own the land, then land owns us and as such it better reflects the responsibility and process of caring for Country.

An Elder is someone who has gained recognition as a custodian of knowledge and lore, and who has permission to disclose knowledge and beliefs.

RNTBC stands for Registered Native Title Body Corporate. It is a specific type of corporation established under the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) to manage native title rights and interests on behalf of Traditional Owners. RNTBCs are also sometimes referred to as Prescribed Body Corporates (PBCs). 

A Prescribed Body Corporate (PBC)  The Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) (NTA) states that when a native title determination is made, native title holders must establish a corporation called a Prescribed Bodies Corporate (PBC) to manage and protect their native title rights and interests. These corporations are called ‘prescribed bodies’ because they have certain prescribed obligations under the NTA, including a requirement to incorporate under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Act) 2006 (CATSI Act) (Reference https://nativetitle.org.au/learn/role-and-function-pbc/about-pbcs).

Regional Corporations have prescribed responsibilities under the ILUA’s, and relevant government and other stakeholders must engage with the Regional Corporations in accordance with these requirements.

An Aboriginal Organisation is defined as a business, charity, not-for-profit organisation, incorporated under Commonwealth, state or territory legislation, that has at least 51% Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander ownership and/or directorship and is operated for the benefit of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, according to the National Agreement on Closing the Gap

An Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) is an organisation that is incorporated under relevant legislation and not-for-profit; controlled and operated by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people; connected to the community, or communities, in which they deliver the services; governed by a majority Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander governing body according to the National Agreement on Closing the Gap

Aboriginal Business is defined by the Department of Finance as an Aboriginal Businesses (including subcontractors, subconsultants and suppliers) registered on the Aboriginal Business Directory WA or Supply Nation and may be; a sole trader where the person is Aboriginal;  a partnership or firm where at least 50% of the partners are Aboriginal; a corporation where Aboriginal persons own at least 50% of the legal entity.

A Corporation is defined by the Corporations Act 2001 as being a company; and any body corporate (whether incorporated in this jurisdiction or elsewhere); and an unincorporated body that under the law of its place of origin, may sue or be sued, or may hold property in the name of its secretary or of an office holder of the body duly appointed for that purpose.  The Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations can provide additional resources and guidance

A Peak Body is a non-government organisation whose membership consists of smaller organisations of allied interests. The peak body offers a strong voice for the specific community sector in the areas of lobbying government, community education and information sharing between member groups and the broader community.  Examples within the remit of this website would include The Council of Aboriginal Services Western Australia, Aboriginal Health Council of WA, Coalition of Peaks, Reconciliation Australia, Reconciliation WA.

A Not for Profit organisation are organisations that provide services to the community and do not operate to make a profit for its members (or shareholders, if applicable)  All profits generated must go back into the services the organisation provides and must not be distributed to members (or shareholders if applicable)