Warruyanta Indigenous Corporation
Rule Book registered by the Delegate of the Registrar on 02 January 2013. This model rule book complies with the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006[cite: 3].
Core Objectives (Rule 2)
The corporation aims to achieve several key objectives in the Mulan Community[cite: 24, 48].
Primary Goals
- **Provide direct relief of poverty, sickness, distress, misfortune, disability, and helplessness** by working towards increasing the standard of living that promotes stability, health, wellness, and work readiness[cite: 20, 23].
- **Delivering programs and provide resources** that enhance the wellbeing of individuals, families, and all groups residing within Mulan Community[cite: 24].
- **Promoting the belief that paid meaningful work or artistic activity** is the most effective remedy for hopelessness[cite: 26, 27].
- **Establishing opportunities for young people** to gain training and develop skills[cite: 33].
- **Promoting a succession planning model** so management can be handed back to the Mulan Community members[cite: 34].
- **Improving the economic environment** of the community generally, and its members[cite: 42].
- **Reinvigorating an awareness of cultural values** among young people[cite: 44].
Further Social & Health Objectives
- **Provide a space** where personal security is assured and where health and medical needs can be monitored[cite: 31].
- **Provide examples and hold discussions** on healthy eating and encourage the adoption of a healthy lifestyle by undertaking bush tucker trips[cite: 32].
- **Encouraging community members** to become involved in the art centre activities, either as artists or in administrative roles[cite: 36, 39].
- **Promoting and encouraging economically and socially responsible behaviours** that enhance communities’ capacity to be self-sufficient[cite: 37, 40].
Activities & Cultural Preservation
The Corporation actively works to foster cultural knowledge, preservation, and economic value[cite: 48, 54].
Cross-Cultural Awareness
To foster and promote cross-cultural and intercultural awareness of the unique cultural practice, skills, and knowledge of people living in Mulan[cite: 48].
Develop an Archive (Keeping Place)
To develop an archive for the care and preservation of cultural objects, materials, and documents[cite: 50].
Intergenerational Knowledge
Facilitate the passing on of intergenerational cultural knowledge and strengthen young people’s ties to their cultural heritage[cite: 53].
Economic & Cultural Value
Raise the self-esteem of community members by recognising the economic and cultural value of Aboriginal art[cite: 54].
Visitor Education
Provide a base from which visitors to the community can be educated in traditional culture[cite: 56].
Record Keeping Research
Undertake an ongoing program of research to develop and maintain high standard of record keeping, administration, and ethical practice[cite: 60].
Membership Overview (Rule 3)
Eligibility (Rule 3.1)
A member must be at least 15 years old. A majority of members must be Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people[cite: 69, 70].
Becoming a Member (Rule 3.2)
A person applies in writing. Directors accept the application by resolution at a directors’ meeting[cite: 72, 74].
Member’s Rights (Rule 3.3)
A member can attend, speak, and vote at general meetings, be made a director, and put forward resolutions[cite: 86, 87, 88].
Member Responsibilities & Liability
A member must follow the corporation rules, let the corporation know if they change their address, and treat other members with respect[cite: 94, 95, 96].
Members do not have to pay corporation debts if the corporation is wound up[cite: 98].
A person stops being a member if they resign in writing, die, or their membership is cancelled[cite: 101, 102, 103].
Records & Location (Rule 7)
Records Kept (Rule 7)
Minutes of meetings, the rule book, register of members, names and addresses of directors/officers, and financial records must be kept[cite: 355, 356, 357, 358, 359].
Record Location (Rule 3.8, 7)
These records must be kept at the corporation’s document access address or registered office[cite: 124, 360].
Register of Members
The register must be available at the Annual General Meeting (AGM)[cite: 125].
Financial & Gift Fund (Rule 8, 10)
The Warruyanta Indigenous Corporation operates a dedicated Gift Fund for its principal purposes[cite: 384, 389].
- The **Warruyanta Art Centre gift fund** is maintained in accordance with the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997[cite: 58].
- All money must be deposited into a corporation bank account[cite: 365].
- All payments must be supported by adequate documents[cite: 368, 369].
- **Cheques, withdrawal forms, and EFT transactions** must be signed by at least two directors[cite: 371].
Application of Funds (Rule 9)
Directors can use money to carry out business but **cannot give money or property to members**, except as reasonable payment for services or goods provided[cite: 373, 374, 376, 377].