Doing business in Australia will be the focus of an innovative initiative to increase the number of Aboriginal people starting their own small businesses in the Central Desert Region.

A 'small business workshop' will be fully developed and delivered in Warlpiri for the first time. 

The Central Desert Regional Council has combined with the NT Department of the Chief Minister to bring the project to life.

Central Desert Regional Council CEO Cathryn Hutton says that this is a foundation strategy for future economic development in the region.

"Governments often talk about economic and enterprise development in the bush, the words roll off the tongue. In most cases they're meaningless to Aboriginal people living in our communities because its a completely different language, with completely different rules. This project is about informing people, dispelling some myths, creating an environment for informed decision making, but the key is that it's in people's first language." Ms Hutton said. 

The workshop is being developed in response to senior Aboriginal people wanting more information so they can more genuinely and actively participate in discussions about how to develop their communities and their land for their long term benefit. 

Central Desert Regional Council President Adrian Dixon is excited about the initiative.  

"This will be the first time that a business workshop will be delivered in full, in language. It will enable our people to better understand and debate what the issues are when two worlds collide. When issues of business, finance and the economy come up against issues of land, law and cultural heritage, and how and when that can be overcome." Mr Dixon said 

Ms Hutton said that the financial support for this initiative was a testament to the Governments commitment to local decision making. 

The Doing Small Business in the Bush Workshop will be developed by Matrix on Board using local cultural expertise and interpreters. 

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For more information call John Gaynor on 0428 849 520 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

The Central Desert Regional Council will conduct a restorative justice trial in Yuendumu in an effort to keep more people out of the criminal justice system.

The 'Civil' process will involve working closely with local police to determine appropriate referrals to the system. Elders trained in restorative justice will lead meetings between between victims and offenders. The council will invest its resources to support the outcome of these meetings.

Council President Adrian Dixon said this process has been a long time in development. "Our Council has been looking for better ways to hold people responsible for their behaviour, to pay restitution where appropriate. But it's also about restoring some authority amongst our elders, about us taking control, It's about making things right." Mr Dixon said.

Central Desert Regional Council CEO, Cathryn Hutton explained that this initiative isn't aimed at serious crime. It's about dealing with kids or adults for lower level property offences that might otherwise go through a criminal process.

The civil restorative justice process will divert people away from police or court action after consultation with police and careful consideration of the nature and extent of the offence and the history of the offender.

"The Council is acutely aware of the need to be part of the solution to keeping Indigenous people out of Jail. In the shadow of the Royal Commission, this is a very timely trial. Our Council is committed to local decision making. It is committed to the primacy of cultural authority as the means of real and sustained behaviour change. Ms Hutton said.

The trial will commence in Yuendumu and will be implemented by the Southern Tanami Kurdiji, Yuendumu's highly successful mediation and justice group. A report back to Council will be made in early 2018 before potentially being rolled out to other communities in the Central Desert Region.

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For more information contact Director Community Services - John Gaynor on 0428 849 520.