Julalikari Council Aboriginal Corporation
Julalikari Council Aboriginal Corporation (JCAC) was established in 1974. The Corporation grew out of the Warumungu Papula organisation with the primary aim of alleviating poverty and improving the wellbeing of the Aboriginal people of Tennant Creek and surrounding homeland communities.
In the mid-1980s, as more language groups came to live in the area, Warumungu Papula changed its name to Julalikari – a Warumungu word meaning ‘everyone’ – in recognition of the changing demographics of the region.
The Aboriginal corporation is now one of the largest in Australia. It is a governed by a board of directors, representing 16 language groups. The Board is chaired by Anthony Miles and Richard James.
Julalikari provides a range of housing, community and social services across the Barkly. These include community housing and construction, the Nyinkka Nyunyu Art and Culture Centre, a land management and nursery team, night patrol, aged and disability services, play group, community care service, town camps task force and youth accommodation centre.
Julalikari has grown by investing in businesses such as the Tennant Creek BP Service Station and local IGA supermarket, with support from Indigenous Business Australia.
The Tennant Creek supermarket and BP Complex are owned by Julalikari Aboriginal Corporation, in partnership with Indigenous Business Australia, each of which is a 50% shareholder.
A partnership Board, chaired by Jana King, reports to the two shareholders. Other members of the Board are Anthony Miles (Chair of Julalikari), Richard James and Trish Angus (independent director nominated by IBA).
All profits from the BP and IGA businesses are returned as a dividend to the owner, the Julalikari Aboriginal Corporation and IBA partnership.
The IGA and BP Complex operate on freehold properties owned by a separate Julalikari and IBA landholding trust.