Applause for Ngarluma Aboriginal Corporation Initiative: Indigenous Affairs Minister Michelle Roberts recently applauded the leadership demonstrated by the Ngarluma Aboriginal Corporation (NAC) during the official opening of the newly established Ngarluma Resource Centre in Roebourne. Mrs Roberts said the centre would be invaluable to the NAC in supporting new initiatives undertaken by the Ngarluma people in areas such as health, education and employment. "This centre is a great asset and enables the Ngarluma people to professionally conduct their business affairs and promote the interests of their people through good business", she said.

Yirra Yaakin play 'Windmill Baby' season ends Saturday: Those who want to see the Aboriginal play Windmill Baby by Yirra Yaakin Theatre better hurry because its season ends this Saturday. The Aboriginal play stands out because it focuses on the good times as much as the bad. Writer David Milroy manages to take you on a human journey focusing on the relationships - good and bad, black and white - that developed on the stations. The play is on at the Subiaco Arts Centre in Subiaco. Tickets can be booked through Bocs on (08) 9484 1133. 

Wimbledon champion tours with Croc Festival: Wimbledon champion Evonne Goolangong-Crawley is warming up for her 2007 tour with Croc Festival, a proven educational and aspirational program for 20,000 students in remote and rural communities across Australia. Evonne has been involved with the festival since the first one in 1998 and "absolutely loves it." This year's activites include health expos, career fairs, trades workshops, sports clinics such as tennis coaching by Evonne, visual and performing arts workshops and financial literacy workshops. The Croc Festival will visit two Western Australian towns: Derby on August 7 - 9 and Mullewa on August 14 - 16. For more info go to the festival's website.

Close the Gap Talks and Photographic Exhibition: Close the Gap invites you to hear from two of Australia's leading advocates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander welfare. It is your chance to learn what they think of Prime Minister John Howard's new proposals to tackle abuse in some Aboriginal communities. Henry Councillor, Chairman of the National Aboriginal Community Control Health Organisation and Andrew Hewett, Executive Director of Oxfam Australia will be speaking on Tuesday 24 July from 11am-12.30pm and from 5.30pm-7pm. Both speakers will be talking in the morning and evening at Central TAFE Art Gallery, 12 Aberdeen Street, Northbridge. RSVP via email to Caron Passmore.

Free Lecture by Robert Manne: The Left, the Right and the Aborigines - New (Uncomfortable) Thoughts on the History of the Dispossession and on the Quest for Reconciliation - will be the topic of Robert Manne's free lecture on Thursday 2 August at 7pm. Robert Manne is one of Australia's best know intellectuals. He has made extensive contribution to public debate in this country on topics such as the Stolen Generation. The lecture will be held in the Social Sciences Lecture Theatre at the University of Western Australia. The lecture is free and there is no need to RSVP. For more information, click here.

Disability and Justice Conference in Perth: Responding to people with a decision-making disability - such as mental illness, intellectual disability, brain injury or dementia - is a growing challenge for the criminal justice system. This issue will be highlighted during a Disability and Justice Conference on 13 November 2007 at the Perth Convention Exhibition Centre. The conference is sponsored by the Office of the Public Advocate together with other government departments. For more info or to register your interest in attending, visit the conference website.

Kids in the City - Winter Dreaming: The City of Perth invites you and your kids to come and see free performances of short stories inspired by traditional Noongar Dreaming. The performances by Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company also include didge and dance workshops. They are on every day (except Sunday 15 July) during school holidays until Saturday 21 July at Forrest Place in the City. Times: 10.30am and 1pm. For more info visit the website.

Positions vacant: There are a number of vacancies at the Department. To view the position details, please visit the employment section of the DIA website here.